AFTER the trauma of the past year, farmers and communities at the centre of the foot and mouth crisis in Devon are beginning to look to the future with a new sense of optimism.

Despite fears that the crisis would force many farmers out of the industry, a surprisingly low number of farmers have opted out, according to Okehampton and Hatherleigh NFU branch secretary Simon Whattler.

Livestock is returning to the fields, with 50 per cent of re-stocking complete and hopes are high that Hatherleigh Market will be fully operational again in February.

Mr Whattler said after the initial shock and devastation at losing their animals, farmers had been remarkably resilient.

'They have realised it is not the end of the world and are picking themselves up which is a great sign, he said.

'Foot and mouth has kicked the industry five years down the line which in many ways is a good thing.

'If we are prepared to change and move with the times, the industry can look forward to a better future.'

The NFU secretary said after TB and BSE the crisis was enough to tip many farmers over the edge, but it seemed to have focussed their minds.

He said: 'I think the ones who have given up farming were planning to do it anyway — it just happened sooner rather than later.

'Many others are changing direction and turning a disaster into an opportunity.'

He said some farmers were changing their entire farming structure and doing something they had always wanted to do, for example, specialising in rare breeds.

But while farmers who lost stock are planning for the future, those on Form D restrictions, who still have their animals yet no compensation for business lost through foot and mouth restrictions, are still finding times very difficult.

Mr Whattler said the NFU would keep fighting for compensation for Form D farmers, but he expected it to be a long drawn-out process.

'Where we are getting somewhere is with the farmers whose animals have gone over 30 months old because of the restrictions and can no longer go in the food chain,' he said.

Meanwhile Frank Yeo, director of KVN Stockdale which runs Hatherleigh Market, said all the indications pointed to a February opening for the market.

Mr Yeo said: 'It will probably take 12 months before everything gets back to normal because the area will still be short of stock, but at least we can sell store cattle again.

'With the market being closed since March, people have realised just how important it is to the economy of the area.'

Mr Yeo said there would be extra costs because of all the cleansing and biosecurity restrictions in place, but he did not think it would pose too much of a problem.

The market will sell store cattle and calves by auction and also be a collection centre for finished sheep and pigs.

'There is likely to be a demand for livestock because of the need for restocking, so we believe the prices will be reasonably good,' added Mr Yeo.

'After a traumatic and very disrupting year we are looking forward to the future.'

Farmer David Heard from Okehampton, who lost his stock in the crisis, said his wish for the New Year was that no-one would have to go through the devastation of foot and mouth disease again.

Mr Heard said: 'It has been very tough for all of us, but things are starting to get better and I have restocked about half of my animals.'

He added there were still many questions that needed to be addressed, like where the disease really came from — only a full public inquiry would provide the answer, he said.