More time to bury dead livestock

When the snow hit large swathes of North Wales a month ago, ITV News brought you the story of how many farmers were struggling to rescue their livestock. It was a gruelling task.

Gareth Wyn Jones was one of those farmers who we featured desperately trying to save his sheep often with no success. For the last week, he's kept a video diary.

The Natural Resources Minister says that following advice from vets and the Met Office it has become clear that "the current derogation for on-farm burial is still necessary for the time being."

But Alun Davies says "geographical coverage must remain closely targeted on the areas worst affected."

The relaxation of laws that prevent farmers burying their livestock on their own land is to be extended for a further week.

The Welsh Government announced last week that the EU regulations would be suspended for seven days, coming to an end this evening.

The extension means that the 'deragation' will last until 16th April.

Farmers called for the change to help them deal with the deaths of hundreds of lambs and ponies following heavy snow in north and mid Wales.

The window of time for farmers to bury their dead livestock ends at midnight tonight. Rules around the burial of dead animals on farms were relaxed in order for farmers to clear up the damage to flocks caused by the recent cold weather.

Natural Resources Minister Alun Davies AM will visit a Powys farm today. He will hear first-hand the lengths farmers have had to go in battling the severe weather this winter.

The scale of the situation facing many farmers across Wales is unprecedented.

It is hoped the minister will be able to gain a further understanding of what those in the farming community have been up against.

The Natural Resources Minister has told ITV News that he has no plans to offer more support to farmers affected by heavy snow.

Alun Davies said that a lot of businesses have been affected by poor weather and that the Welsh Government can't help them all.

He said that 18,000 farms in Wales are already receiving a total of £260million in direct subsidies.

The Farmers' Union of Wales has welcomed the relaxation of rules banning the burial or animals on farms as a 'step towards common sense.'

But the Union criticised the announcement that restrictions will come back into force in a weeks time.

Gwyn Williams, Area Officer at the FUW also told ITV News that the Welsh Government should consider how it could help support farmers financially.

The Farmers' Union of Wales has welcomed the relaxation of rules banning the burial or animals on farms as a 'step towards common sense.'

But the Union criticised the announcement that restrictions will come back into force in a weeks time.

EU Regulations require farmers to pay collectors to remove and dispose of fallen stock.

Opposition parties in the Assembly have claimed that the Welsh Government has been too slow to react and has not gone far enough in its response to the impact of heavy snow on livestock farming.