A FARMING boss is urging the Government to give more help to farmers caught up in the beef crisis.
Sir David Naish, president of the National Farmers' Union, said farmers currently selling cattle under 30 months old needed realistic help in severely depressed markets.
He added: "The European Commission has recognised that something needs to be done to help these particular farmers.
"I will be pressing the Government to pay direct top-ups to those affected which will reimburse the shortfall in market prices."
In the meantime, the farmers' chief is opposed to the widespread selective slaughter scheme.
He said: "The NFU will continue to oppose such a scheme unless it can be proved that such drastic action will substantially reduce the BSE numbers in the UK.
"So far, I have seen nothing that can reassure me on this point."
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