The Farmers’ Union of Wales has described the Welsh Government’s north Pembrokeshire badger vaccination programme as a ‘complete farce’ after it was revealed that its five year vaccination trial could not be completed – and has called for a return to a science based badger culling policy, the removal of all additional farm restrictions in the area and for what remains of the vaccination budget to be used to help north Pembrokeshire farmers.

Deputy Minister for Farming and Food Rebecca Evans revealed on Tuesday (December 1) that a global shortage in BCG vaccine has led to the suspension of badger vaccination in Wales – meaning badger vaccination will almost certainly not take place next year, which was to have been the final year of the north Pembrokeshire Intensive Action Area (IAA) vaccination pilot.

Since 1 May 2010 farmers within the IAA have had to undertake additional and costly cattle control measures over and above those implemented in the rest of Wales.

“Farmers accepted additional cattle controls in the area in 2010 on the understanding that the wildlife disease reservoir would be tackled using a scientifically proven approach, in the form of badger culling,” said FUW TB spokesman Brian Walters.

“In 2012 those farmers were betrayed by the Welsh Government’s decision to replace badger culling with vaccination, despite scientific and economic evidence from its own staff and advisors showing vaccination would cause more cattle to die, and cost an additional £3.5million.”

Brian Walters said that the latest progress report from the IAA had concluded there had been no meaningful change in TB levels in the area.

“The Welsh Government has now revealed that it is not even able to complete the second-rate policy it introduced in 2012 – meaning north Pembrokeshire farmers have been let down not once but twice,” he added.

Brian Walters described the situation as a “complete farce” and said it was now imperative that the additional cattle controls present in the area for more than five years should now be lifted. He said the FUW was also calling for what remains of the IAA vaccination budget to be used to help those farmers in the area who have endured additional costs not present in other areas.

“Four years and millions of pounds – around £700 per badger vaccinated - have been wasted on a policy which the available science tells us cannot come close to being as effective as a badger cull.

“In light of this failure, the Welsh Government should now implement a badger culling policy at the earliest opportunity in line with the official ministerial advice it has previously received, in order to replicate the positive outcomes of culling seen in countries throughout the world.

The FUW is eager to work with the Welsh Government in order to develop and implement an action plan for a badger culling policy. 

[caption id="attachment_5932" align="aligncenter" width="169"] FUW president Glyn Roberts at the manifesto launch.[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has outlined those issues which should be priorities for Assembly Members and the Welsh Government after next May’s election in its manifesto, launched today (November 30) at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Speaking during the launch, FUW president Glyn Roberts said that while the manifesto deals with areas as diverse as the RDP, animal health, red tape and renewable energy, all were of direct relevance to Wales’ economy, and in particular the economy of the rural areas where almost 35 percent of Welsh residents live.

“Where better to illustrate this than here at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair,” said Glyn Roberts, who highlighted the fact that hundreds of the tradestands at the Winter Fair represented businesses which are partly or solely reliant on agriculture, some of which employed hundreds of people.

“For every business here today at the Winter Fair, which are reliant on agriculture, there are hundreds of others not present - from the village shop to the local garage, from the agricultural contractor to the local builder, all are dependent to some extent on agriculture.”

Glyn Roberts warned that withdrawal from the EU represented a major threat to such businesses and Wales’ economy as a whole, and that far more needed to be done by the next Welsh Government, to quantify the potential impacts of a withdrawal from the EU, or the further watering down of the CAP.

“Frustrated as we all are with the EU’s many shortcomings, the FUW believes that exit from the EU would cause economic collapse for agriculture and our rural economies on a scale not seen for generations.

“People voting for or against EU membership, or advocating the abolition or watering down of the CAP, need to know in detail what the likely consequences of what they advocate will be,” said Glyn Roberts.

A key demand of the FUW’s manifesto is that detailed work should be undertaken early on by the next Welsh Government to quantify such impacts - not only to inform lobbying positions ahead of a vote on EU membership, but also contingency plans, should such an exit become inevitable.

"Given the pressures from some to water down the CAP even if we remain in the EU, and the appetite for costly bureaucracy, such work is essential in terms of ensuring Assembly Members and the Welsh Government are well-informed and lobby at every level for what is best for Wales, rather than passively accepting policies which we believe would be devastating for our country,” he added.

FUW 2016 Election Manifesto

The announcement by deputy minister for farming and food Rebecca Evans AM that, BPS part-payments of approximately eighty percent will only be made to around 50 percent of farmers by the end of this week, has been described as disappointing but expected by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The minister, who spoke at the Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) Royal Welsh Winter Fair breakfast, further said that the vast majority of remaining part-payments will be made as early as possible in the New Year. The balance, or final 20 percent, payment will be made to farmers next April, although a minority of payments - probate cases for example - will take longer.

The FUW acknowledged that warnings have been made in the press repeatedly since June that a delay was likely for many and that part payments would be made.

Farmers will remember the extremely complicated process of completing the Basic Payment Forms coupled with more EU regulations of the requirement of sketch maps – struggles that FUW members of staff have experienced first-hand when helping members fill out their BPS forms.

It has inevitably led to a delay in the processing of forms which is extremely frustrating. As such most of the blame for delays lies with the new European Regulations – not the Welsh Government who have to abide by those regulations.

“Farmers will obviously be extremely frustrated, especially those who have seen a very difficult year and need this cash injection to the farm business now more than ever,” said FUW president Glyn Roberts.

“Nobody wants to have to rely so heavily on these payments but most of the money arriving in the farm account through the BPS will be going straight out to secondary and tertiary businesses.

“That’s why the FUW is calling on the Welsh Government in its manifesto, which will be launched later today to instigate detailed research into Wales’ rural and wider economy and agriculture’s place within it.

“Hundreds of businesses are solely reliant on Welsh agriculture. Look at all the traders and business’s exhibiting at the Fair today. Any delay in the payment of the single farm payment will have a direct impact on these business’s and their employees,” added Glyn Roberts.

However, rather than calling the RPW helpline, which could delay the processing of payments even further, the FUW urges members to respond to any outstanding Welsh Government queries or issues as soon as possible.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is looking forward to what promises to be an exciting and busy Royal Welsh Winter Fair, with the launch of the FUW election manifesto, free farm business advice, a farm security advice service and the Christmas card design competition winner announcement all happening at the union’s stand.

Farmers looking for advice on issues such as BPS, renewable energy, pylons, tenancy rights, compulsory purchase and rural property issues should visit the FUW stand, which is located in Livestock Hall 1, to book an appointment for a free 40 minute slot with Agri-Advisor agricultural solicitors, Davis Meade Property Consultants and Land Agents and LHP accountants, auditors and business advisors.

“If things are tough or worrying our members, we don’t want them to bury their heads in the sand. I would urge any farmer worried about issues that could impact the farm to take advantage of the free appointments available at our Royal Welsh Winter Fair farm surgeries. Continuing uncertainty about the single farm payment, coupled with unpredictable meat and milk market prices, means that planning for the forthcoming year is essential and could help avoid future problems or penalties,” said FUW marketing and membership manager Caryl Gruffydd Roberts.

The FUW will also be launching its election manifesto at the stand on Monday of the show at 2pm.

“While some politicians and civil servants perceive that it is only farmers who, during the course of the Winter Fair, will be discussing low incomes, cash-flow problems and the possible date on which much-needed Basic Payments will be released, it couldn’t be further from the truth,” said FUW president Glyn Roberts ahead of the Winter Fair.

A walk around the showground and a few chats with some of those running the hundreds of trade stands should quickly set the record straight when it comes to the wider importance of agriculture to Wales’ economy as a whole, and in particular the central role it plays in our rural economies.

“Put simply, there is a great deal more than just farm incomes riding on the release of payments and it is the need for political recognition of this that will be the focus of the FUW’s 2016 election manifesto,” added Glyn Roberts.

On a domestic level, numerous rules currently being consulted upon and discussed in Cardiff Bay have the potential to reduce farm incomes, while at the other end of the spectrum our exit from the European Union would change agriculture beyond recognition – but not just agriculture: our rural economies and communities as a whole.

Glyn Roberts further added that despite this being apparent to many of us, the lack of data on the contribution of agriculture to Wales’ rural economies is lamentable, meaning politicians who advocate or accept unquestioningly changes which impact on agriculture do so without any real understanding of the wider impacts of such changes.

This is why the FUW’s manifesto calls for detailed work which will identify the full impacts of changes, so that those who advocate them know exactly what they are calling for, and contingency plans are drawn up for eventualities which may be beyond our control – such as our exit from the Common Market and the EU.

Monday November 30 at 12.30pm will also see the announcement of the winner of the FUW annual Christmas card design competition and the union is excited to be selling the cards in aid of British Heart Foundation Cymru, who will also be at the stand from 9.30am to 12 noon of both show days.