The Farmers’ Union of Wales today called for greater transparency regarding the impact extra cattle control measures may have had on TB in the north Pembrokeshire Intensive Action Area (IAA).

Almost four years after biosecurity visits were first instigated in the area, and more than three years after a raft of extra cattle testing and controls were introduced as part of a programme which was originally to have comprised badger culling, information about the impact of the measures has been “sparse to say the least”, says the union.

FUW TB spokesman, vice president Brian Walters, said: “Those who are opposed to badger culling are forever blaming cattle for TB despite the fact that we have some of the strictest rules in the EU.

“Since April 2010 a raft of even stricter cattle rules have been introduced in the IAA, the frequency of TB testing has been doubled and, following last year’s U-turn on a badger cull, the area is now in the second year of a badger vaccination programme.

“Unless there had been a significant change in TB incidences in the area compared with previous disease levels and those in other, similar areas, it would be impossible to attribute any changes to the actions taken in the area. However, farmers and the general public have a right to know what impact, if any, these measures are having.”

Mr Walters said there were significant additional costs for farmers in the area who had accepted the additional rules on the understanding that a badger cull would take place.

“Despite two Welsh Assembly majority votes in support of a badger cull, the industry was last year betrayed by the Welsh Government U-turn, and we believe farmers within and around the IAA, and the general public, have a right to know how the TB statistics relating to the area have changed.”

Mr Walters added that farmers in the area felt little had changed since 2009 in terms of TB levels, and many felt things had got worse.

“However, we have no choice but to rely on this type of anecdotal feedback because we do not have the real figures to hand,” he said. 

In a letter to natural resources and food minister Alun Davies, the union asks the Welsh Government to issue a full report detailing all statistics and changes relevant to bTB in the IAA since an appropriate time before the establishment of the IAA and for further updates on a regular, three or six-monthly basis following the production of such a report.

The letter states: “Such updates should be used as the basis of decisions as to whether or not actions within the IAA should be continued.”

The letter, which also asks that money allocated for co-funded badger vaccination should be reallocated, concludes: “Given that budgetary constraints are a major factor in terms of delaying longstanding proposals to update the current holding identification system, we believe that the current proposal to co-fund badger vaccination outside the IAA at vast expense to the taxpayer represents a further misdirection of funds which could otherwise be used to undertake more meaningful and worthwhile work.

"We would therefore urge you to consider using those funds for more worthwhile purposes.”

[caption id="attachment_2575" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW TB spokesman, vice president Brian Walters[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is seeking nominations for this year’s United Counties Agriculture and Hunters Society Award for the person judged to have made the most outstanding contribution to agriculture in Carmarthenshire during the past few years.

The judges will include representatives from the FUW, HSBC Bank plc and the United Counties Agricultural and Hunters Society.

FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer Meinir Bartlett said: “The nomination should be in the form of a letter or citation giving full details of the work and achievement of the nominee with great emphasis on the positive or beneficial effect on agriculture in Carmarthenshire.”

The award will be presented at a dinner to celebrate the 24th Welsh Dairy Show to be held at The Boars Head, Carmarthen, on Friday November 15.

The closing date for nominations is Wednesday October 2.

For further information contact Meinir Bartlett at 13a Barn Road, Carmarthen, SA31 1DD or by telephone on 01267 237974.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is seeking nominations for this year’s FUW-HSBC Outstanding Service to the Welsh Dairy Industry award.

The winner will be announced, and the presentation made, at this year’s Welsh Dairy Show in Carmarthen on Tuesday, October 15.

Past winners have included former FUW Carmarthenshire county president Ogwyn Evans (in 2008), Carmarthenshire farmer Bryan Thomas - a past member of the Holstein Friesian Society council and founder member of the Welsh Dairy Show (2009) - Flintshire dairy farmer Terrig Morgan - who established a successful discussion group "The Udder Group" in Flintshire for younger milk producers now run by DairyCo (2010) - DairyCo chairman Tim Bennett (2011) and former FUW milk and dairy produce committee chairman Eifion Huws from Anglesey (2012).

FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer Meinir Bartlett said: “There are a number of other very worthy individuals in Wales who also deserve this award.

“Nominations should be in the form of a letter or citation giving full details of the work and achievements of the nominee.

“We have in the past had some very worthy nominations and winners and we look forward to receiving this year’s nominations.”

Nominations need to be sent to the FUW Carmarthenshire county office, 13a Barn Road, Carmarthen, SA31 1DD by the Wednesday October 2 closing date.

Primary school pupils from all over Wales are once again being invited to enter a Christmas card design competition organised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The union is asking children aged from four to 11 to design a Christmas scene depicting a farming theme for its Christmas cards which will be sold to raise money for the FUW’s chosen charitable causes - Cardiff-based T? Hafan and Hope House Children's Hospices of Oswestry which includes T? Gobaith at Conwy.

FUW president Emyr Jones said: “The competition will be judged in both Welsh language and English language categories. Children can use crayons, coloured pencils, felt tipped pens or paint in their entries which must be completed on an A4 sheet of paper.

“The only stipulation is that it must be a Christmas card with a farming theme. The competition was a huge success last year and we hope we can once again count on the support of our local schools all over Wales.”

The winner of each category will receive a £30 gift voucher for themselves, a packet of the Christmas cards depicting their design, one day’s free admittance to the 2013 Royal Welsh Winter Fair to receive their prizes and a £50 cheque for their school.

The winning entries, together with a selection of other entries, will be displayed at the FUW stand during the Winter Fair (December 2-3).

The closing date for entries is Friday October 25.

The pupil’s name, class number, school name and home address must be included on all entries which should be posted or delivered to the FUW, Llys Amaeth, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3BT, marked “Schools Competition”, or e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.