The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the launch today (Monday November 3) of a survey of badgers found dead in Wales.

The survey is being conducted as part of the Welsh Government’s Bovine TB Eradication Programme and badgers found dead will be taken for post-mortem examination.

FUW TB spokesman Brian Walters said: “It is now eight years since the last Wales-wide survey of badgers was undertaken by the Government.

“That survey was extremely useful in identifying national and regional prevalence of bovine TB in badgers, so we welcome the launch of this new survey and would encourage anyone who sees a dead badger to report it.”

The Welsh Government is asking those who come across a dead badger to note the location and call the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on 0300 303 8268. The line is open during normal office hours, Monday to Friday.

APHA will, where practicable, endeavour to collect all carcasses reported. However, they also warned that it is important people do not handle dead badgers or interfere with a carcass in any way.

The previous Wales-wide badger found dead survey was carried out between October 26, 2005 and May 31, 2006. A total of 727 badgers found dead were reported to the State Veterinary Service, 459 of which were considered suitable for examination.

Across Wales the prevalence of bovine TB in badgers was found to be 13%, with estimates of prevalence highest in Gwent (26%) southern Powys (25%), Carmarthenshire (16%) and Pembrokeshire (15%).

In the more northerly parts of Wales levels were lower, but nevertheless concerning, being 7% in northern Powys, 3% in Ceredigion, 5% in northwest Wales and 3% in north-east Wales. By comparison, the proportion of Welsh cattle which tested positive for bTB in 2007 was 0.6%.

Food, farming and tourism were in the spotlight for the fourth annual Anglesey Day in Westminster hosted by the island’s MP Albert Owen and featuring Farmers' Union of Wales members promoting their food products.

Local companies involved included bakers Popty’r Bryn, cheesemakers Caws Rhyd Y Delyn and David and Alison Lea-Wilson's Anglesey Sea Salt.

FUW county executive officer Heidi Williams said: “It was the best Anglesey Day yet with an excellent range of exhibits showcasing our island.

"We had an early start from Holyhead train station and were treated to a feast of goodies - compliments of Virgin Trains who sponsored the carriage taking those participating in this prestigious event.

"Also included in the party were Mary Parry MBE and her dancing girls dressed in traditional Welsh costumes.

"The event took place in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, with stands and exhibitions ranging from charities to the public and private sector, all with connections with the Isle of Anglesey.

"Guest speakers included deputy speaker of the Commons Lindsey Hoyle, Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb and his deputy Owen Smith, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Anglesey county council chairman Vaughan Hughes and Labour leader Ed Miliband also made time in his busy schedule to attend."

Former chairman of the FUW's milk and dairy produce committee, Holyhead dairy farmer Eifion Huws, took the opportunity to lobby MPs about the crisis within the dairy sector.

He reminded them Welsh dairy producers operate on a global platform within an unforgiving marketplace and it is essential that they are allowed to compete at an international level.

"I was able to tell MPs that dairy is one of Wales's largest agricultural sectors, accounting for around 34 per cent of our agricultural production by value, which is around twice as high as the whole of the UK," Mr Huws said.

"I also stressed to them that recent cuts by some processors to the prices paid to farmers mean that farmgate prices are likely to have decreased by between five to seven pence per litre (ppl) by this month and this may have a further downward impact on production levels.

"Although the UK is not a major supplier of dairy produce to Russia, their import embargo has also disrupted the EU marketplace and has made this downward price trend even worse by increasing the uncertainty across the sector," Mr Huws added.

[caption id="attachment_3155" align="aligncenter" width="768"] ANGLESEY DAY LOBBY: Eifion Huws (left) and Huw Irranca-Davies on the FUW stand.[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales today reminded farmers who have been unsuccessful in their initial appeals to remove land from the Welsh Government’s moorland area that they have until November 28 to submit stage 2 appeals.

“Eighty-two per cent of stage 1 appeals have been rejected by the Welsh Government panel which considered these. This has caused huge frustration, particularly where the evidence and aerial photographs seem to show conclusively that the land is not moorland,” said FUW policy director Nick Fenwick.

“However, a second stage appeal can be submitted, which requires a survey and report to be produced by a Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) registered surveyor and submitted by November 28.

“Those who have not received a response to stage 1 appeals should contact the Welsh Government as soon as possible, as all those who submitted appeals should have been written to some time ago.”

Mr Fenwick said the Welsh Government had agreed to reimburse up to £1,500 (inclusive of VAT) where stage 2 appeals were successful.

“Just a few months ago there was to be no appeals process where land had been incorrectly categorised in 1992,” he said. “The FUW worked hard to secure a two stage appeals process, similar to the one introduced in England in 2004, and we remain grateful to the deputy minister for having listened to our concerns.

“This is likely to the be the last chance farmers get to remove incorrectly mapped land from the moorland payment region, and we would encourage all those who have been turned down at stage 1 to carefully consider a stage 2 appeal if they have not already done so.

“With just weeks to go before the deadline, farmers need to come to a decision as soon as possible, as the surveying work can take some time and the onset of winter will make surveying more difficult.”

Mr Fenwick said that many CIEEM registered surveyors were prepared to undertake initial surveys at competitive costs in order to assess whether it was worth undertaking a full survey.

“The price of doing both initial surveys and the full survey is also likely to fall where farmers in a region group together,” Mr Fenwick added.

Lists of CIEEM approved persons likely to be able survey field parcels or parts of parcels which should be removed can be found by visiting http://www.cieem.net/members-directory/search and entering “Phase 1 survey (habitat and species)” and the relevant area postcode into the search boxes.

“Those considering appealing could also contact their local FUW office to enquire about the surveys and qualified surveyors,” said Mr Fenwick.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is warning horse owners to be vigilant for their animals showing signs of muscular weakness or stiffness, colic like symptoms, sweating or trembling which could be an indication of Atypical Myopothy - a seasonal condition associated with the seeds of the Sycamore tree (acer pseudoplatanus).

“There has been a surge in reported cases around the UK and whilst there is no cure and a mortality rate of over 75 per cent, early diagnosis of the condition means that symptomatic treatments of intravenous fluid therapy, painkillers and anti- inflammatories can help in recovery,” said the union’s deputy director of agricultural policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

The number of cases has increased significantly over the past year - due to high winds and floods dispersing the seeds far and wide and a good summer - has seen an abundance of the distinctive “helicopter” shaped seeds which can be dispersed over a wide area.

“Vets are advising that if Sycamore seeds are found on horse pasture try and fence off any trees during spring and autumn and supplementary feeding should be made available,” Ms Nowell-Phillips added.