Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
14/12/2011 16:41:53
FUW urges Welsh Government to follow England's lead on Bovine TB
The Farmers’ Union of Wales urged the Welsh Government to forge ahead with plans to tackle the disease in north Pembrokeshire after welcoming today’s Defra announcement to carry out controlled culling of badgers in two areas of England.
Westminster environment secretary Caroline Spelman revealed the devastating problems caused by bovine TB are to be tackled by a package of measures which include controlled culling of badgers as part of a science-led and carefully managed badger control policy.
She confirmed that policy is expected to be piloted initially in two areas in early Autumn next year. Both pilots, carried out over a period of six weeks, will be closely managed and monitored to examine how safe, effective and humane a method this is.
An independent panel of experts will be asked to oversee and evaluate the pilots and report to Ministers before a decision is made on whether to roll out the policy more widely.
FUW bovine TB spokesman Brian Walters said: “For years Wales was well ahead of England in terms of implementing an holistic approach to tackling bovine TB on all fronts but the Welsh Government’s decision to place plans on hold, pending a review of the science which had already been done, has led to a massive loss of momentum and now leaves Wales well behind England.
“The English and Welsh proposals are very different and, given the hard work which has been put into the Welsh plan, it is essential we forge ahead with our own programme rather than procrastinate.
“The free shooting approach which is to be investigated by Defra has been advocated by bodies such as the RSPCA as a humane approach to pest control, so those bodies which now raise concerns regarding Defra’s plans are being extremely disingenuous.”
Mr Walters’ comments echoed demands made earlier this week by FUW president Emyr Jones who also accused the Welsh Government of betraying Welsh farmers by continuing to delay a decision on a badger cull in West Wales.
Mr Jones wrote to Assembly environment and sustainable development minister John Griffiths expressing "extreme dismay" that the decision " originally expected early last autumn - is now being delayed until the New Year.
"These continued delays are a betrayal of the Welsh farming industry’s commitment to a holistic approach to controlling bovine TB," said Mr Jones.
Mr Walters added: “The confidence of the farming industry in the Welsh bTB eradication programme is falling away rapidly, and those burdened with the extra costs of cattle controls feel betrayed by the failure to take action against the massive disease reservoir which exists in badgers and is infecting cattle on a daily basis.
“The only way to regain that confidence is for Wales to forge ahead with its original plans to cull badgers in north Pembrokeshire, which all the science shows will significantly reduce bovine TB incidences in the area.”
Westminster environment secretary Caroline Spelman revealed the devastating problems caused by bovine TB are to be tackled by a package of measures which include controlled culling of badgers as part of a science-led and carefully managed badger control policy.
She confirmed that policy is expected to be piloted initially in two areas in early Autumn next year. Both pilots, carried out over a period of six weeks, will be closely managed and monitored to examine how safe, effective and humane a method this is.
An independent panel of experts will be asked to oversee and evaluate the pilots and report to Ministers before a decision is made on whether to roll out the policy more widely.
FUW bovine TB spokesman Brian Walters said: “For years Wales was well ahead of England in terms of implementing an holistic approach to tackling bovine TB on all fronts but the Welsh Government’s decision to place plans on hold, pending a review of the science which had already been done, has led to a massive loss of momentum and now leaves Wales well behind England.
“The English and Welsh proposals are very different and, given the hard work which has been put into the Welsh plan, it is essential we forge ahead with our own programme rather than procrastinate.
“The free shooting approach which is to be investigated by Defra has been advocated by bodies such as the RSPCA as a humane approach to pest control, so those bodies which now raise concerns regarding Defra’s plans are being extremely disingenuous.”
Mr Walters’ comments echoed demands made earlier this week by FUW president Emyr Jones who also accused the Welsh Government of betraying Welsh farmers by continuing to delay a decision on a badger cull in West Wales.
Mr Jones wrote to Assembly environment and sustainable development minister John Griffiths expressing "extreme dismay" that the decision " originally expected early last autumn - is now being delayed until the New Year.
"These continued delays are a betrayal of the Welsh farming industry’s commitment to a holistic approach to controlling bovine TB," said Mr Jones.
Mr Walters added: “The confidence of the farming industry in the Welsh bTB eradication programme is falling away rapidly, and those burdened with the extra costs of cattle controls feel betrayed by the failure to take action against the massive disease reservoir which exists in badgers and is infecting cattle on a daily basis.
“The only way to regain that confidence is for Wales to forge ahead with its original plans to cull badgers in north Pembrokeshire, which all the science shows will significantly reduce bovine TB incidences in the area.”
|
Farming items for Sale
|
John Deere 7530 PREMIUM - Maidstone(GBP 58500)
Valtra N111 - Castle Douglas(GBP 29400)
John Deere - 8345RT TRACTOR 2009 - Norwich
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
MASSEY FERGUSON 6180 - York(GBP 10500)
Case IH 895 - Chippenham(GBP 9540)
Related News
WELSH Bovine TB review panel urged to act swiftly - 27 Oct 2011Failure of the Welsh bovine TB review panel to report to Minister John Griffiths in a timely manner could add to the number of cattle slaughtered and ...
NFU response to Bovine TB Eradication Group for Englands progress report - 08 Oct 2009The following is the NFU’s response to the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England’s progress report which was published today: Meurig Ra...
FUW urges beacons planning review following programme - 04 Nov 2010The Farmers’ Union of Wales today called for an urgent review of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s (BBNPA) role after a BBC Wales T...
FUW urges vigilance following sheep rustling - 08 Nov 2011The Farmers’ Union of Wales has urged people living in the countryside to be vigilant for any suspicious activity after a farmer reported a case...
Government launches consultation on the spread of bovine TB - 09 Feb 2004The Government has launched a consultation on proposals for short term cattle-based measures to prevent the further geographical spread of bovine TB. ...
Government must take control of bovine TB shambles - 28 Feb 2006Speaking following the NFUs annual conference, Liberal Democrat Environment and Rural Affairs Spokesman, Norman Baker MP, today demanded the Governmen...
Badgers and Bovine TB - NFU tells government to grasp the nettle - 08 Jun 2006The NFU is calling on the Government to introduce a targeted cull of diseased badgers at the earliest opportunity as a clear signal of its determinati...
Wales-Government Report on Bovine TB. - 05 Feb 2009WALES GOVERNMENT REPORT ON BOVINE TB.On 8 April 2008 the Minister for Rural Affairs made an announcement on the Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Eradication ...
FUW leader urges military chiefs to buy Welsh food - 12 May 2009High-ranking military officers on a visit to the Farmers’ Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan’s farm were urged to encourage the Minis...
Welsh Government welcomes TB plan - 09 Apr 2008Welsh Government's welcomed TB plan will be supported by farmers as long as it is quickly adopted, compensation is fair, and all parts of the erad...
