The Rural Bulletin: 27th September 2018

Drought support secured for livestock producers

Farmers have been granted permission by the EU Commission to grow grass and other edible forage on land that is not usually allowed for grazing, to help those who are short on fodder after the summer drought.

 This was a result of the UK Government applying for a derogation from the EU’s Ecological Focus Area winter crop requirements – which specifies that certain areas must be left fallow or sown with a non-grazable crop mix.

Secretary of State Michael Gove said: “I am pleased that the flexibilities announced today will offer some help to livestock farmers by opening up new sources of fodder ahead of the winter.”

NFU and CLA boost for superfast broadband

The NFU and the CLA are both working with Openreach to roll out superfast broadband to rural areas to close the digital divide. The access will be generated through a newly negotiated fixed line broadband wayleave agreement and Memorandum of Understanding between Openreach, the NFU and CLA. 

This is designed to make it easier for Openreach to come to agreements with landowners over locations and payment rates and will smooth the way for a faster rollout of broadband from 1 October 2018.

“Statistics from the NFU show that a considerable amount of farmers do not have access to superfast broadband and in an increasingly digital world, it is crucial that our digital communications are fit for purpose,” says Stuart Roberts, NFU vice president. “This initiative marks another step forward to ensuring our members have all they need to establish and maintain productive, profitable and progressive farming businesses.”

Welsh government rejects calls to extend badger cull

The success of the badger culls in England has led to widespread calls to extend the cull to Wales, but the Labour-led Welsh Government has resisted, according to Farmers Weekly. 

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “The cabinet secretary for energy, planning and rural affairs [Lesley Griffiths] continues to rule out an England-style badger cull.

The English cull saw a 50% reduction in new outbreaks of TB across Gloucestershire and Somerset and has prompted Defra to roll-out the cull to the remaining High Risk Areas of England.

The Farmers’ Union Wales is still encouraging the Welsh Government to reconsider. “The ongoing failure of [the] Welsh Government to tackle the wildlife reservoir of disease confirm[s] that Wales' TB eradication programme has lost impetus,” says Ian Lloyd, FUW animal health and welfare committee chairman. “The Welsh cattle industry has simply had enough and the FUW is now calling on the Welsh Government to properly recognise the impact of this insidious disease on farming families in Wales.”

NFUS warns dog owners to enjoy the countryside responsibly

Ahead of National GetOutsideDay this weekend, NFU Scotland has reminded people to be responsible when enjoying the countryside.

NFUS president, Andrew McCornick encouraged people to get outside and enjoy the countryside but reminded people to close gates, follow paths, keep their dogs on leads around livestock and clean up after their pets.

“Anyone walking their dog in the countryside should ensure they are familiar with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and also ensure their dogs are adequately controlled so that they are unable to cause distress or injury to farm animals.”

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