Farm Crisis Network (FCN), a charity that provides practical and pastoral support to farming people during times of anxiety or stress, has published  “Stress and Loss”.  This reports research into the human impact of bovine TB. Farmers were interviewed about how TB affects them and their families.

The research took place in three areas where TB is prevalent, the South West, West Wales and here in Worcestershire. The results show the considerable stress the disease places on farmers, and their families. Farmers’ comments underlined how everybody in the family is emotionally involved – they were often upset by the loss of their cattle many of which they would know individually, worried by the financial strain resulting from cattle being culled, by the consequent restrictions and by the extra work which this caused. Sometimes the strain is very graphically shown in the wording of the comments. One farmer reported “Pressure on the marriage, children picking up tension and friction, upsetting for children when pet cow was put down, psychological stress when young calves are shot.”

From the report it is also striking how many farmers are working under intense frustration and with a sense of futility regarding government policy. One farmer said “I feel there is a constant dark cloud of uncertainty over me, causing stress, anxiety and fear. I feel weary, mentally and physically which results in pain in my body.”

Volunteers from Worcestershire group of FCN were involved in carrying out the research. Chair of that group, the Revd Robert Barlow, Agricultural Chaplain, said, “I hear concern in political circles about the financial cost of TB. The NFU reckon it cost the taxpayer £100 million a year and then there are all sorts of business costs that affect farmers. This report focuses on the human cost. For many in farming the cost is devastating. The report makes harrowing reading.”   

ENDS.

The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.