One morning in late February 2001 I half listened to Farming Today as I started to wake. Normally the programme was full of chatter, soundbites from auctions and talk of politics and money. That morning it was silent apart from the sound of a man crying, broken occasionally by his voice talking about the need to dismiss staff, the loss of his investments, fears for the future, and above all, the welfare of his animals. It was the first outbreak of Foot and Mouth since 1967, and was an event that was as devasting to farmers, animals and businesses as COVID-19 is today.