DEFRA is staging a conference in Okehampton today (Thursday) to outline options for farmers who have had animals slaughtered because of foot and mouth disease.
Invitations to the conference in the Charter Hall have been sent to 1,500 farmers who currently have no stock because their animals either contracted the disease or were slaughtered under the contiguous cull policy.
Beginning at 2.15pm, the conference will be chaired by the NFU's South West director Anthony Gibson.
The aim of the event, which will be repeated in Gloucester on August 7 and Barnstaple on August 14, is to draw together experience from all relevant quarters including DEFRA's Rural Development Service, the Rural Development Agency, the Farm Business Advisory Service and the Meat and Livestock Commission.
Other organisations including the NFU, the Country Landowners' Association and the Rural Information Network will also be represented.
The views from farmers will be sought on the best ways in which all these agencies can assist them and there will be an opportunity for individual consultations.
'Farmers have been to hell and back with foot and mouth — yet another body-blow in a string of disasters not of their own making,' said Anthony Gibson. 'They desperately need the best advice available and the conferences aim to inform, inspire and to initiate the best course of action in these troubled times.'
A spokeswoman for DEFRA said this first set of conferences was specifically for farmers who had lost their stock.
'These people may or may not go back into farming and we will be outlining the options and opportunities available to them,' she said. 'We are however launching our Business Advice Service next week which will be available to others who have been affected by the disease.'
She said if there was a request for further seminars open to a wider range of people, such as farmers who have been unable to move stock because of foot and mouth restrictions, they would be organised.