Mrs Down's Diary

"I'm paying 200 more for a carcass than I was six weeks ago," he said. "This import ban on Brazilian beef because of foot-and-mouth means there is a real shortage of home-produced beef."

Good. We've two bulls ready for market next week and then a steady stream to go after that.

The Government has followed EU guidance and recognised the endemic disease problem in countries it imports from. Brazil in this case. A rare praise point for Defra.

Supermarkets may still hold cold stores of Brazilian beef carcasses from before the import ban. So remember to buy British and only from your local butcher.

Foot-and-mouth movement restrictions last year caused by the carelessness of disease precautions at the Government research centre at Pirbright killed the lamb trade. Not so good. Lamb prices halved as a glut of fit animals all came on to the market at the same time when movement restrictions were lifted.