OpenFields

519: Farm inspections cause stress

This briefing is summarised from ‘25 regulations per acre-a report on the impact of inspections on farmers’ stress in Wales, 2007’ produced by the Farm Crisis Network (FCN) with support from the Healthy Minds at Work project in Wales. Whilst this research was carried out in Wales anecdotal evidence supports the view that inspections cause similar pressures in much of the rest of the UK.

Year of Publication2007

Farmers are unnecessarily stressed by inspections. Stress could be reduced by getting them to buy in to the need to drive standards up and by regimes of encouragement rather than punishment. Where penalties are necessary they should be proportionate. Inspectors should have better inter-personal skills. Farmers could be helped with paperwork and to handle stock efficiently. The agencies involved should do more to combine visits to save time. Government needs to reduce the regulatory burden.

This item is categorised as follows

• Subject Collection > Arable & industrial crops
• Subject Collection > Livestock & dairy

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