Jon checking some of the Longhorn cows in their winter quarters.

Last night's edition of Countryfile made us all unbearably sad as the programmed highlighted the tenth anniversary of the devastating foot and mouth epidemic of 2001.

I lived through the trauma at very close quarters in my previous farming life in Northumberland and documented the epidemic in a diary for a national newspaper as Sarah Walton.

It was therefore incredibly painful to be reminded of the heinous waste of healthy animals and the total mismanagement of the tragic epidemic. We should also never forget the terrible fallout on people and businesses, both in the rural and tourist sector. Even this morning I still feel out of sorts, I think in all honesty I'd prefer not to be reminded.

The best website for all information about foot and mouth disease and other animal diseases such as bluetongue and bovine TB is run voluntarily by Mary Critchley at www.warmwell.com .

I recommend you visit Warmwell and we await next week's Countryfile programme where they aim to discuss how any future outbreaks may be dealt with. It should be interesting. Let's hope they have the right ideas this time, based on science, and that in our lifetimes we never see the like of it again.