Farming

FUW wants culling plans to move ahead

THE FUW has urged the Welsh Government to forge ahead with plans to tackle bovine TB disease in north Pembrokeshire after welcoming Defra announcement to carry out controlled culling of badgers in two areas of England. Westminster environment secretary Caroline Spelman revealed the devastating problems caused by bovine TB are to be tackled by a package of measures which include controlled culling of badgers as part of a science-led and carefully managed badger control policy.

She confirmed that policy is expected to be piloted initially in two areas in early Autumn next year. Both pilots, carried out over a period of six weeks, will be closely managed and monitored to examine how safe, effective and humane a method this is.

An independent panel of experts will be asked to oversee and evaluate the pilots and report to Ministers before a decision is made on whether to roll out the policy more widely.