FUW HIGHLIGHTS FARMER DISMAY TO ENVIRONMENT MINISTER

The threatened resignation of the three Welsh TB eradication board chairmen reflects the anger and frustration of the Welsh farming industry as a whole regarding the decision to put a north Pembrokeshire badger cull on hold pending a further review of the science.

That was message conveyed by senior Farmers' Union of Wales officials and staff during a meeting with the Welsh Government's minister for environment and sustainable development.

Speaking after the meeting, FUW president Emyr Jones said: "The decision to place a key part of the TB eradication programme on hold, at a time when progress desperately needs to be made, has left the industry angry and disillusioned.

"With support for the programme waning and widespread cynicism across the industry, I made it clear to the minister that the review needed to be completed as soon as possible."

During the meeting the union also emphasised the huge financial burden that TB and its associated restrictions represented for the industry, particularly in north Pembrokeshire.

"From the outset we argued that all aspects of the eradication programme should be taken forward in unison. Yet all we have seen so far is a severe increase in cattle restrictions without any action being taken to control the massive disease reservoir present in the badger population," said Mr Jones.

The union also highlighted a range of other issues of concern which fall within the new minister's portfolio, including the need for appropriate guidance to be issued to planning authorities on Technical Advice Note 6 - which is aimed at helping rural communities to be more sustainable.

FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts, who also attended the meeting, said: "The launch of TAN 6 at last year's Royal Welsh Show marked a major milestone in the union's long campaign to help farming families to build in a way which caters for the next generation.

"It is also aimed at addressing a range of problems including those which accelerate the loss of our young people from rural communities.

"Yet, in the absence of clear guidance, there seems to be a wide disparity in the way different planning authorities interpret the existing guidance which is making it a bit of a postcode lottery around Wales."

Mr Roberts welcomed the commitment given by the minister that guidelines would be issued in the near future.

Other issues discussed with the minister included the role of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy steering group and the National Environment Framework.

Mr Jones described the meeting with Mr Griffiths as an extremely productive one.

"Major frustrations have built up regarding failure by government to engage with those who have a mandate to represent the Welsh farming industry.

"The new minister now has a real opportunity to change this, and ensure proper engagement and dialogue between the Welsh Government and the FUW over the full range of issues which fall within his remit, and the union is also duty bound to continue engagement with the minister on all issues of relevance to agriculture within his ministerial portfolio."