Farmers’ Union of Wales vice president Brian Walters today warned the general public not to be misled by a leaflet entitled "Stop the barbaric and senseless badger cull".

Responding angrily to the Badger Watch publication, Mr Walters, an organic farmer from West Wales, said: "The leaflet is so wildly inaccurate it begs the question that it is either drawn up by people incapable of understanding simple facts or it is deliberately dishonest."

Following numerous complaints about the leaflet - published by Badger Watch and Rescue Dyfed and widely circulated in the Dyfed area - the FUW has posted a three-page factsheet on its website highlighting why it believes claims made in the document are "untruthful".

"As far as I’m concerned, Badger Watch Dyfed should withdraw the leaflet and issue a public apology," said Mr Walters

"We all have the right to express our views, but to publish such statements in order to get the general public to lobby politicians is disgraceful and in my view highlights the depths to which some people will stoop to mislead public opinion."

The FUW’s factsheet, published in response to the leaflet campaign, claims that eight of the statements made in 10 "answers" to frequently asked questions are misleading.

Included among these are the claim that TB is spread almost exclusively from cattle to cattle, which the Advertising Standards Agency has already ruled breaches rules on "truthfulness" following a case brought by the FUW against the RSPCA more than three years ago.

The factsheet also highlights gross inaccuracies in the statistics used in the leaflet, stating that one figure quoted "is out by 500%".

"This is not the first time that an animal rights pressure group has been caught misleading the general public on the clear link between badgers, cattle and TB," said Mr Walters. "It is important that the general public scrutinise statements made by this type of organisation.

"Last year, Welsh families had to suffer the deaths of eight thousand cattle due to this disease epidemic, and it is high time that animal rights groups took their fair share of the responsibility.

"For years they have misled politicians and the general public into ignoring the epidemic in badgers, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of cattle, costing the taxpayer millions, and causing prolonged and agonising deaths for badgers.

"The majority of Welsh politicians from all parties have accepted the scientific evidence, and attempts to put the democratic process off course through campaigns of misinformation should be stamped out.

"To treat the general public with such contempt is frankly disgusting."

Welsh dairy farmers have told Conservative politicians the EU’s decision to scrap milk quotas by 2015 will have a destabilising effect on their sector of the industry.

Farmers’ Union of Wales leaders delivered the stark message when they met Assembly shadow rural affairs minister, North Wales AM Brynle Williams, and Welsh Conservative candidate for the European Elections Kay Swinburne on the dairy farm of union members Harry Williams and his son Robin at Cilcain, near Mold.

A number of important issues were raised affecting the current problems in the dairy industry and Dr Swinburne pledged that if elected on June 4 she would keep in regular contact with the FUW and its members to work for the benefit of Welsh agriculture.

Brynle Williams said Harry and Robin Williams had invested heavily in their farm over the past few years but the problems facing the dairy sector - decreasing farm gate prices and increasing production costs - were making it difficult for them to make a sensible return on their investment.

FUW milk and dairy committee chairman Eifion Huws reminded the gathering that the union’s president Gareth Vaughan had already called for a national debate on the impact abolishing milk quotas will have on the Welsh dairy sector.

Last November the 27 EU agriculture ministers agreed to lift quotas by one per cent per year before scrapping them altogether in 2014-2015.

"Mr Vaughan has also written to Assembly rural affairs minister Elin Jones informing her the issue has attracted growing attention on the Continent during recent months, and prompted significant debate at a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers," said Mr Huws.

"The FUW is well aware of growing concern amongst many farmers in Wales, and in other parts of the EU, that the full implications of the abandonment of the quota regime have not been properly recognised by the European Commission.

"Many believe that such a change would have a destabilising effect on an industry that is already suffering as a result of market volatility, and would have a particularly adverse impact for family farms.

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"With the recent volatility of milk prices, there is a real need for the Welsh Assembly Government to engage in further discussions on the impact that abolishing the quota regime will have for the Welsh dairy sector," added Mr Huws, who runs a dairy farm on Anglesey.

Welsh farmers' strong objections to EU plans to introduce electronic identification (EID) of sheep next year were hammered home in Brussels today by FUW deputy president Emyr Jones.Mr Jones and other representatives of Fairness for Farmers in Europe (FFE) outlined their strong objections to EID to the EU’s Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs (DG SANCO) which is responsible for introducing it on December 31 this year.

"We made it clear to Alberto Laddomada, DG SANCO’s Head of Unit for Animal Health, that there is now an almost unanimous acceptance across Europe that EID technology has serious problems associated with it in terms of implementing it on farms and in markets and slaughterhouses.

"I believe it is like forcing people to drive cars that have failed their MoTs. That is completely unacceptable when we are talking about animal health and welfare and disease control, not to mention the financial consequences of forcing people to use a costly technology that is not fit for purpose."

Mr Jones said recent statistics show sheep numbers in Wales fell by around 10 per cent between 2007 and 2008, while total EU sheep production fell by around 2.5 per cent during the same period.

"For many producers this regulation is likely to be the final straw, resulting in further reductions in flock sizes which in turn threatens the viability of the entire supply chain, especially in Wales," Mr Jones added.

Nominations are being invited for the Farmers’ Union of Wales Pembrokeshire branch’s 2009 Countryside Award which recognises the achievements of younger farmers in the county.

To be eligible for the award the nominee must be 40 years of age or under on January 1, 2009; actively involved in agricultural production or land management; and normally resident within Pembrokeshire.

"To ensure the future of the industry, it is essential that we acknowledge the hard work of younger farmers during these difficult times and nurture them," said county chairman Dafydd Williams.

"In presenting this award we hope that the determination of the younger generation of farmers in the county will be highlighted and applauded," he added.

A cash prize, perpetual trophy and a year’s free FUW membership will be awarded.

Further details and nomination forms can be obtained by telephoning the Pembrokeshire FUW Office on 01437 762913.

All nominations must be submitted by Friday, May 22, 2009.

The award has gained greater importance since Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones launched a consultation on support for young farmers at last year’s Royal Welsh Show.

She said all sectors need young people to bring new ideas, energy and enthusiasm, and farming is no exception.

Encouraging young entrants to the industry can not only bring innovation and enthusiasm to farming, but it is also important in sustaining rural communities and the Welsh culture.

The publication of the consultation meets a One Wales commitment to support young entrants to farming, and includes proposals on how to use £2m of funding available from 2010 to best effect.

Ms Jones added: "Young entrants to the farming industry represent the future. Removing the barriers that young entrants face and supporting them as they set up their business has been a priority for me since I became Minister, and I am pleased to be publishing this consultation.

"I want it to be a topic of discussion and I want people to be looking towards the future of the industry. There are a number of ways we can provide support for young entrants including providing advice on marketing and business plans; one-to-one mentoring; encouraging joint ventures with established farmers to assist with succession and assisting with the issue of access to land and housing.

"Of course, there are challenges facing the industry, which is why it is vital that young entrants have the support they need to face up to these. They have a crucial role in the future of our food and farming industry and in maintaining the fabric of our rural communities."

Last year’s winner of the FUW award, 36-year-old Robert Vaughan, was recognised for his enthusiastic devotion to diversification on his family’s three farms high in the north Pembrokeshire hills.

Presenting him with the trophy in the main ring at last August’s Pembrokeshire County Show, Mr Williams said the award was originally launched to recognise younger farmers bucking the trend and continuing to work in the county’s agricultural industry.

"Robert is a fine example of someone dedicated to working in agriculture within the county and he is a very worthy winner."

Robert runs a herd of 200 Longhorn cattle and a flock of 1,000 pedigree Lleyn and Welsh Mountain ewes on the family’s Carn Edward group of traditional Welsh hill farms in the Gwaun Valley in north Pembrokeshire.

The farms - Penlan Uchaf, Llanerch and Penrhiw - encircle the Carn Edward stones on Carningli Common and his decision to start selling beef in boxes over three years ago has led to his recognition by the FUW.