DEFRA was forced to extend the deadline for farmers to express an interest in a new fallen stock disposal after a "disappointing response".

The Government caved in to pressure from all sectors of the livestock industry to fund a scheme to deal with fallen stock after it announced it was to ban on-farm burials this summer.

The ministry said that, for the scheme to get off the ground, at least half of Britain's livestock farmers had to register an interest in joining the scheme.

Despite advice from farming bodies, urging farmers to reply to DEFRA's letter, the poor response forced the ministry

to extend the deadline to May 28.

May 15, 2003 13:00