| News
Defra TB strategy announcement - NFU response
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “Bovine TB remains a huge threat to beef and dairy farmers in large parts of the
country. More than 28,000 cattle were slaughtered in England last year because of it and nearly 4,000 herds that had
previously been clear of the disease were affected by it.”
armers facing a
daily battle against
bTB in those areas
that have been
granted licences
for badger control
operations this year will welcome
the news that finally action is being
taken to tackle the reservoir of
disease in wildlife in these areas.
Today’s announcement means
that badger control will now be
taking place in ten per cent of the
area where cattle are at the
highest risk of contracting bTB.
“There is still a huge amount of
work ahead to ensure the
eradication of bTB from this
country and I would like to take
F
this opportunity to thank farmers
for their continued support in
working towards this goal.
“The Chief Vet has made it clear
that dealing with the disease in
both cattle and badgers is
essential to tackling the disease
effectively and that proactive
badger control is currently the best
available option for dealing with
the disease in badgers. The
number of areas that have
expressed interest in carrying out
badger controls in future years not
only shows the sheer extent of the
bTB problem farmers are facing
but also the industry’s continued
commitment to playing its part in
tackling this devastating disease.
“We have always said that we
must use every option available to
tackle bTB, including cattle testing,
cattle movement controls,
improving biosecurity, and
encouraging farmers to make
informed decisions when buying
cattle in from other areas.
“We will consult with our
members before submitting our
response to the consultation
launched today on introducing
further cattle measures, including
more severe skin tests for herds in
the area at greatest risk from bTB
and increased surveillance testing
for all herds in the areas on the
edge of the disease spread.
“The new farm advice packs will
provide farmers with information to
help them improve the
effectiveness of the biosecurity
measures they implement on their
farms, and the updated online
mapping tool will allow farmers to
make better informed decisions
when buying in livestock to
minimise the risk of bringing bTB
onto their farms.
“The NFU has always said that
control of bTB in non-bovine
animals has to be part of any
strategy to tackle the disease so
we welcome the consultation
launched today on introducing
further disease control measures
for these species.”
Louise is putting Wales on the map at International
Farming Seminar
One local Young Farmers member will soon be
representing the whole of Wales as she jets off to Norway
this October.
lamorgan Young
Farmers Club
member Louise
Evans is travelling
to Norway this
October to act as
an ambassador for Wales at the
annual Rural Youth Europe
Autumn Seminar.
The event, which lasts a week,
offers young farmers from across
Europe the opportunity to learn
about different cultures and
traditions, as well as share their
own.
On her trip to Oslo, Norway’s
capital, Louise will be supported
by Welsh crisp manufacturers
Jones Crisps, who use only Welsh
potatoes and ingredients to
produce crisps at their Gwynedd
base. She has also received the
backing of Welsh MEP Dr Kay
Swinburne who has supplied her
with Welsh dragon soft toy
souvenirs and information about
Welsh farming for the rest of the
international visitors to Norway.
Louise said: "I am thrilled to
have received such an array of
produce.
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www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
“The crisps from will go down a
storm!
“A big thank you to Jones
Crisps. I am a proud YFC member
and I am going to make sure that
Wales is recognised as being the
best country at this year’s event".
This year’s seminar has been
given the topic ‘Think, Love, Move,
Do' and aims to identify social
inclusion, raise awareness and
challenge people’s mindsets.
The meaty topic will certainly
raise some questions, especially
with the changes in YFC and
keeping it current and relevant for
members.
Louise Evans, 24, who is an
active member of Maendy Young
Farmers believes that “the more
you put into YFC, the more you
get out".
“I am very lucky to have been
selected to attend Norway. I am
really looking forward to taking
part in the seminar and hopefully
see the Norwegian landscape as
well as teach others about Wales.”
September 2016 | Farming Monthly | 07