Farming leader defends payouts

Animal compensation figures are disputed in an EU report

Farmers' leader Hugh Richards has dismissed further claims that farmers are receiving "significantly higher" levels of compensation for stock lost in the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The European Union's Food and Veterinary Office has reported UK farmers are possibly receiving "excessive payments" for culled livestock.

Hugh Richards: Unhappy with criticism of farmers

But Mr Richards, president of the National Farmers' Union Cymru, challenged the claims by the EU, which has a 60% interest in payouts to UK farmers hit by the crisis.

"We have only been paid for what our stock is worth," Mr Richards told BBC News Online Wales.

"With all respect to Maff officials, they could have objected to the claims.

"We have no power to decide the figures ourselves.

"For the last fortnight, we have been accused of spreading the disease and now we are accused of excessive compensation claims."

Crisis in Wales

Total confirmed cases UK-wide 1,928 - with 114 in Wales

Powys - 74 cases

Anglesey - 13 cases

Monmouthshire - 20 cases

Caerphilly - 2

Rhondda Cynon Taff - 1

Neath Port Talbot -1

Newport - 3

Mr Richards' defence of farmers' payouts by the government follows details of 37 farmers who have submitted compensation claims of £1m or more.

One Scottish farmer has received £4.3m for losing pedigree herds of cattle.

Mr Richards said he had been told of at least three farmers in Wales who are seeking in excess of £1m for lost stock.

"These people have lost the value of their livestock and the earning potential that goes with it," he said.

And Mr Richards suggested that if any worker - even an Assembly Member - was to go without their pay cheque, they would face serious difficulties of their own.

The pressures these farmers are under is constant

Hugh Richards, president NFU Cymru

"I have spoken to three farmers in Clwyd who told me they have not been paid for the last four months.

"I had one farmer on the telephone on Sunday threatening suicide and I have given his name to the Samaritans.

"Another told me was bankrupt and a third said he would have to sell land to keep the bank happy.

"The pressures these farmers are under is constant."

Newport West MP Paul Flynn has challenged the levels paid to valuers visiting Welsh farms, who are up to £1,500 a day.

Beacons graziers await tests on 4,000 hill sheep

But Defra - the recently reformed agriculture ministry - said the figures were based on a 1% fee on all the animals checked, based on a minimum of £500 and maximum of £1,500.

As a result of the large numbers of animals being assessed, valuers are frequently receiving the maximum fee.

Meanwhile, test results on 4,000 sheep from the Brecon Beacons for signs of foot-and-mouth are still awaited.

Over 6,500 sheep have been culled in the area in the last 10 days and up to 100,000 animals in and around the Beacons face testing for the antibodies of the virus.

The programme is to be extended to Vaynor and Penderyn, north of Merthyr - and across the great forest above Hirwaun.

Testing also looks set to be increased around the Crickhowell area after a cluster of cases were identified there.