A MEETING between the Assembly, the collection companies, trading standards and NFU Cymru on March 18 acknowledged the problem farmers were facing over fallen stock. As a short-term solution, it was proposed that farmers deliver their fallen stock to collectors. However, farmers on Anglesey claim they would have to deliver their stock all the way to the incinerator site at Wrexham. Local farmer Will Evans, said: "It's a right mess. I haven't spoken to a single person who's had their dead stock picked up on time. It's a disgrace, we need to go back to the old system where you can bury your animals yourself. "My brother and I are going to the Trading Standards office and telling them we are going to bury our animals ourselves. We have no choice." Speaking last week, local farmer and councillor Peter Rogers said: "I have every sympathy with the present contractor who is doing his very best across Anglesey but who, in no way, has the equipment or facilities to meet the Fallen Stock requirements which show that some 70% of fallen stock occurs at this time of the year. "I am determined to do my very best for all the people of Anglesey which is why I am carrying out this burial just two days before the Easter holidays begin. In this way I can provide a service to local people and the island's tourists industry by offering a way to clear up rotting remains and put an end to the stench of death. "And the situation that Carwyn Jones has placed Anglesey farmers in, with the flawed and failed Fallen Stock Scheme, must now be challenged." An Assembly Government spokesman said: "We must remind farmers that on-farm burial is illegal under any circumstances. We have agreed a number of short-term solutions which should ease the pressure and make on farm burial avoidable. These include the option of transporting carcasses to the disposal point if possible and under strict biosecurity restrictions. "We are aware of problems with collections in North Wales under the National Fallen Stock scheme. This is in part due to the success of the scheme. The National Fallen Stock Scheme Company is working with collectors to improve the situation regarding time delays in picking up fallen stock, and the Welsh Assembly Government is actively encouraging new collectors to enter the scheme and build up disposal capacity. "Officials held a successful meeting in North Wales with the NFSCo, the Farming Unions, WDA, local authorities and collectors to discuss improvements to the scheme. The meeting came up with a wide range of positive actions that will be taken forward as quickly as possible. This demonstrates a partnership approach to overcoming the problems being encountered by the industry." | 
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