Watch my speech on supporting farmers struggling with bovine TB

The financial and emotional burden that farmers come under when bovine TB strikes is devastating.

Farmers are under immense pressure already. With changes to inheritance tax and the scrapping of the sustainable farming incentive coming into force this year, many are already on the brink.

Bovine TB threatens to tip some over the edge. I’ve had meetings with South Devon farmers where they’ve highlighted the considerable impact TB can have on their mental health, with their livelihoods being put at risk while they are forced to watch infected cows being taken away for slaughter.

Far more support is needed to help those affected deal with the impact, and clearly much more needs to be done to improve TB testing.

I recently wrote to DEFRA about both issues, and I was proud to speak in a Westminster Hall debate this week where I called for greater support for our farmers.