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Limited companies option for badger cull considered by industry and Defra

FARMERS GUARDIAN - print edition
24 Sep 2010
Alistair Driver reports on what happens next with the coalition Government's proposed badger cull in England


Groups of farmers could form companies limited by guarantee to apply for badger cull licence in England under plans being discussed by industry and Defra officials.

Farming Minister Jim Paice's announcement last week on his proposals for a badger cull in England open up the possibility that culling could begin as soon as next May, once the badger closed season ends.

There are, however, still a number of hurdles to be crossed.  A final decision on the policy and the conditions attached to badger cull licence is not due until next spring there is a very real prospect of a legal challenge to the decisioin, which could further delay matters.

Then there is the small matter of farmers on the ground organising themselves into groups to apply for licences in selected areas, and getting into a position to perform the cull in accordance with licence conditions.

Some parts of south west England are at an advanced stage.  Farmers have come together in three areas - notably the 'VLA9' area covering much of north Cornwall and north west Devon, but also areas in west Cornwall, bordering the coast, and Exmoor in Devon.  They are 'ready to go', says National Beef Association TB chairman Bill Harper.

Starting the cull

"We would have no problem starting next May, providing the legal proces is through, because the work is done," said Mr Harper, although he acknowledged some issues were still some way from being resolved.

"One option would be to form groups into a legal body, for example, a company limited by guarantee, which could be quite a benefit when it comes to applying for licences.  That is being investigated," he said.

Mr Harper said this issue, alongside others such as how much individual data needs to be released publicly and to Defra, was being discussed on the Defra-industry TB Eradication Group (TBEG), of which he is a member.

"We still don't know how licensing is going to work.  We are all guessing at the moment and are trying to influence it through TBEG," he said.

Mr Harper said the option of free shooting, which could be 'very effective', alongside cage trapping as a proposed culling method was a 'positive step'.

He predicted a combination of both would be used, with farmers hiring trained contractors and gamekeepers in most cases.

NFU TB spokesman Jan Rowe, also a member of TBEG, is urging caution on the timing of badger culling in most instances.

He acknowledged some South West areas were already 'up and running' and might be in a position to start sooner, but stressed, even in those cases, 'there is still an awful lot of work to do'.

"I would say we will, maybe, just about be culling next year. May is going to be very theoretical.  I can not see any significant culling going on until this time next year, and if there is a Judicial Review, it could be a lot longer."

A group at NFU headquarters has been developing the policy behind the scenes for some time, and Mr Rowe said the NFU, working alongside other organisations, intended to play a leading role in developing and co-ordinating the policy on the ground.

Final details

But he stressed it would not be possible to start 'proper organisation' until final details of the policy and the licence have been announced, probably next spring.

"We don't know what refinements are going to be made to the licencing criteria, how Natural England will interpret them, or how fast it will respond in issuing licences," he said.

Once the criteria are in place, cull areas will have to be identified and local management groups set up to apply for licences and to co-ordinate culling.

They will have to address questions such as precise area borders, encouarging sufficient participation, the method of culling, who is going to do it, training and carcase disposal, as well as funding, security and data privacy.  "The management and organisation is going to be as big a part of the process as the actual culling," said Mr Rowe.  "This has to be done properly and professionally.  It is not the sort of thing one wants to be rushing.  I can see it happening, which is the good news."

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The key licence criteria for the
proposed badger cull in England

* Areas with 'high and persistent' levels of bTB in cattle
* Minimum 150sq.km
* Where possible, steps taken to limit badger perturbation on the edge of a cull area
* At least 70 per cent of land accessible for culling
* Culling by cage trapping and shooting, and shooting free-ranging badgers
* Cull so badger densities are low enough to reduce TB,but do not lead to local extinction
* Four-year licences
* Natural England to administer

 

 

 

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