Farmers coming to the end of their transitional agri-environment agreements were today urged by the Farmers' Union of Wales to start thinking about their Glastir applications.

To ensure they are not left in a vacuum between the ending of their existing contracts and the beginning of the new, farmers should be starting to consider whether they need to obtain an application form, or book a consultant to visit the farm, to help assess the necessary points required to enter the scheme.

"Farmers who wish to be considered for the Glastir Advanced Element in addition to the basic scheme should ensure that their applications are submitted as early as possible in 2013 to allow time for the necessary farm visits and contracts to be drawn up," said FUW deputy director of agricultural policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

"There is also likely to be great demand for the services of farm consultants next year as many farmers come to the end of their transitional arrangements and so we are urging farmers to think ahead now and contact Farming Connect or their own advisers to ensure that they are able to submit their applications in sufficient time," she added.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today expressed it disappointment that the ten non-executive directors appointed to the new body replacing Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales lacks representation from the farming industry.

FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman, Anglesey farmer Gavin Williams, said: "In principle we supported the need for a more streamlined approach to regulating the environment in Wales but we remain concerned that delivery on the ground is properly maintained.

"We had hoped the ethos of the new body would be to work constructively with farmers to deliver environmental benefits for all but, unfortunately, it appears it will be top heavy with academics and public sector appointees and far too little representation from the agricultural industry.

"Given the important contribution made by all private sector businesses to the rural economy, we are also disappointed that there is a complete lack of representation from the private sector as well as the forestry sector”.

Environment minister John Griffiths revealed the new body will be known as Natural Resources Wales or Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru and it will be crucial to a sustainable future for the people, environment and economy of Wales.

“Not only will the new body result in a more streamlined way of working for the benefit of its customers, it will also ensure more effective delivery, improved value for money and better outcomes for the people of Wales,” he added.

Mr Williams added: "Based on the aspirations set out by the ministers in his announcement earlier today and the lack of farmer, private sector and forestry representation on the Board of Natural Resources Wales, there will have to be a significant amount of bridge building between the Body and the rural industries".

An open evening for farmers to discuss the environment and planning for the future will be held by the Farmers’ Union of Wales Gwent branch at Abergavenny Rugby Club on Tuesday October 30 at 7.30pm.

The meeting will give them the opportunity to hear presentations by Nicola Salter, from Environment Agency Wales, on “Environment Agency and the Farmer” and a representative from solicitors Hugh James & Co will talk about “Planning For The Future”.

FUW Gwent county executive officer Glyn Davies said: “We are looking forward to an evening where farmers can ask questions on the role of Environment Agency Wales in relation to farming, cross compliance issues, slurry and fuel store regulations and hear about succession law, the potential pitfalls and how they could affect farming business.

“The session with Hugh James & Co will also provide information on how to take steps to avoid common pitfalls. Please telephone FUW Gwent county office to confirm attendance on 01873 853280.”

Today's decision to delay a cull of badgers in England should be used to undertake a full and proper assessment of the impacts of the Randomised Badger Culling Trials, says the Farmers' Union of Wales which believes a large number of likely positive impacts have yet to be investigated or reported.

Despite having cost the taxpayer around £50 million, the FUW claims the analyses of the results of the trials have focused almost entirely on once measurement - the impact on confirmed herd incidences - leaving many impacts uninvestigated or unreported.

"Data published since the ISG's 2007 Final Report show the number of confirmed herd incidences in culling areas dropped significantly during and immediately after the culling period to about half the level in control areas," said FUW agricultural policy director Nick Fenwick.

"However, there are numerous other measurements which have not been investigated or reported, despite being of critical importance in terms of further increasing the benefits and cost effectiveness of badger culling.

"While there is naturally a sense of disappointment that the English culls have been postponed, the decision was probably a sensible one given there are just weeks left until the end of the culling season," Dr Fenwick said.

He added that the delay should be used to more properly assess and report upon other impacts seen in the RBCT areas, both during and after the culling period and in a letter to UK Government chief scientific adviser Prof Sir Mark Walport, Dr Fenwick states: "...publications have invariably focused on changes in herd incidences of bTB, while the cost-benefit analyses of culling appear to be based purely upon the average costs associated with all herd breakdowns.

"...figures released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 suggest that the average number of skin test reactors per animal and herd tested were significantly lower in proactive culling areas than in control areas both during and after the culling period...

"Such reductions have not, to our knowledge, been fully analysed or reported upon in detail..."

Other factors which have a major impact on disease control and the costs for taxpayers and farmers of bTB outbreaks include the rate at which farms become subject to bTB restrictions, the overall duration of herd outbreaks and likelihood that herds test clear during follow-up tests, all of which remain largely uninvestigated or reported, claims the union.

The letter concludes: "It is now more than five years since the Independent Science Group on Cattle TB published its Final Report following a lengthy trial conducted over some 2,000 km2, and the gathering of cattle and herd bTB data from areas comprising around 5,500 km2, all at vast cost to the taxpayer.

"Given the importance, extent and cost of this work, the FUW believes that Government has a duty to ensure that all impacts of the trials are comprehensively analysed and reported, rather than important decisions and conclusions being based upon what is, to all intents and purposes, a single measurement."

Figures released by the Welsh Government in March estimated that culling in north Pembrokeshire would have brought about a cost benefit, while the current vaccination programme would result in a net cost for farmers and taxpayers of around £3.5 million.

"Yet we understand the cost benefit calculations associated with culling do not include possible reductions in the costs of individual outbreaks in culling areas, which evidence suggests could be significant," added Dr Fenwick.