The Farmers' Union of Wales today reacted angrily to Welsh Government plans to appoint a panel to review the science in relation to a planned badger cull in north Pembrokeshire and other Welsh bTB measures.

Speaking outside the National Assembly after the announcement by Minister John Griffiths, FUW TB spokesman and vice president Brian Walters said: "The previous policy was based on firm scientific evidence which shows badger culling in north Pembrokeshire would significantly reduce TB in cattle.

"The latest scientific evidence, released in April this year, simply reinforces that previously policy.

"It shows a 31.5% reduction in confirmed TB herd incidences in English badger culling areas over the four and a half year period after badger culling ended, and a reduction of 37% in the six months to March 2011.

"Cattle farmers are being crippled by this disease, are incurring massive extra costs and are seeing their businesses locked down, particularly in north Pembrokeshire where harsh restrictions have been in place for well over a year.

"Yet we seem to be procrastinating over the major obstacle to disease eradication, which is the massive presence of TB in badgers."

According to the latest available statistics on TB in cattle and badgers across Wales, the rate of TB in badgers is around 32 times higher than it is in cattle.

Mr Walters added that, while the FUW fully supports the development of a practical and effective badger vaccine, no vaccine candidate had yet been shown to be worthwhile.

"Some people are giving out extremely misleading statements which suggest that we could be reducing TB incidences by vaccination as we speak.

"Important progress was made public in November last year when a paper on catching and injecting badgers with BCG vaccine was published.

"However, the scientists responsible made it clear that we did not yet know the effectiveness of vaccination as a tool by which to reduce TB incidences."

Mr Walters was referring to a briefing note, issued by the scientists responsible for the vaccine research, which stated that "...the field results cannot tell us the degree of vaccine efficacy...Several thousand badgers would need to be killed to determine the presence and severity of TB at detailed post-mortem examination...we do not know how deployment of the badger vaccine in the field would affect TB incidence in cattle...A large-scale vaccination field trial, at least on the scale of the RBCT, would be needed to scientifically assess the impact of badger vaccination on the incidence of disease in cattle".

Mr Walters said badger culling, therefore, remains the only tried and tested method of reducing TB herd outbreaks in an area where TB is present in badgers.

"While we have seen an encouraging reduction in cattle TB incidences over the past two years, the latest figures suggest that the disease may be on the rise again.

"In the past five years more than 44,000 cattle have been culled in Wales due to TB. At the disease rates present in the 1990s it would have taken between 50 and 100 years for us to reach this number.

"We cannot keep stalling matters in order to avoid difficult decisions in relation to culling badgers. We know badger culling works, and badgers are nowhere near being endangered.

"According to the experts, if we were to carry out a proper badger vaccine trial this would also involve culling thousands of badgers, but with no guarantee of a positive outcome."

Following the election of Bala sheep and beef farmer Emyr Jones as president of the Farmers' Union of Wales during the union's annual general meeting last Friday, the rest of the influential finance and organisation committee members were revealed today.

Mr Jones's deputy will be Glyn Roberts, Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, who has been one of the union's three vice presidents since 2004.

Having completed a full-time agricultural course at Glynllifon College in 1976, and not being a farmer=s son, he went to work as a shepherd at Dylasau Uchaf - a 350-acre farm owned by the National Trust which he secured the tenancy of in 1983.

From 2006-2008 he was the FUW's representative on the board of Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) and for the past three years he has been a Welsh Assembly Government appointment non-executive director on the HCC board.

Carmarthenshire dairy farmer Brian Walters was re-elected one of the three vice presidents with Welsh Black Cattle breeder Lorraine Howells, of Rhymney, Gwent, and sheep farmer Richard Vaughan, of Tywyn, Meirionnydd, the other two.

Anglesey and Pembrokeshire dairy farmers Eifion Huws and Brian Thomas were elected north and south Wales representatives on the committee respectively.

Brian Walters, farms a 500-acre holding, with his wife Ann and sons Aled and Seimon, near Carmarthen. They have a dairy herd of 200 cows - some of which are pedigree Ayrshires - with 200 followers and 40 beef cattle. They also run a self-catering farmhouse holiday unit and take pride in educating the occupants on the problems and joys of farming.

Miss Howells, who has been the south Wales member of the finance and organisation committee since 2000 and farms Cwm Carno Farm, a 220-acre hill farm most comprising reclaimed opencast land with common grazing.

The farm carries a suckler herd of pedigree Welsh Black cattle and South Wales Mountain ewes, and has been in the family for over 100 years.

Mr Vaughan and his wife Dwynwen's Pall Mall Farm north of Tywyn is one of two holdings, totalling 550 acres. Most of the land is at Pant y Panel and Prysglwyd at Rhydymain, near Dolgellau.

A flock of 750 Welsh Mountain Sheep is kept, together with 150 ewe lambs replacements. Around 200 ewes are crossed with Texel and Suffolk rams, and the remainder with Welsh Mountain. Approximately 30 store cattle are kept and fattened over the summer.

Mr Huws has been an active member of the finance and organisation committee for the past five years. He is also chairman of the union's milk and dairy produce committee.

He farms at Penrhos, Bodedern, a dairy farm with a 140-head pedigree Ayrshire herd which has an outstanding production and show record.

Mr Huws, a highly respected Ayrshire cattle judge, travels the length and breadth of the country, and in Europe, representing the dairy industry in the hope of acquiring better conditions and prices for farmers.

Mr Thomas is currently establishing a herd of pedigree beef shorthorn cattle and increasing the size of his sheep flock as well as growing some cereals on his 280-acre farm, Llwyncelyn Lan, Llanfyrnach. He is also developing a new garage and MOT station in Crymych in conjunction with his previous tenant.

During the 1996 BSE outbreak, Mr Thomas was one of the lead campaigners in South West Wales opposing the importation of inferior beef into Wales. Having heard a report on the BBC regarding protests at Holyhead harbour he arranged a meeting in Crymych and addressed over 1,500 farmers.

In 1997 he led a group of 10 farmers to Tesco's stand at the Royal Welsh Show to address them about the unfair way in which they were treating the industry.

Farmers' Union of Wales deputy president Emyr Jones was elected as the union's president during a meeting of its grand council in Aberystwyth today (Friday, June 17).

A former vice president of the union, Mr Jones, 63, was brought up on the family farm, Rhiwaedog, Rhosygwaliau, Bala, which extends to 356 acres and carries 60 suckler cows and 800 sheep.

Speaking after his election, Mr Jones said: "I am proud to have been chosen to lead the FUW whose principles I strongly believe in and that is why I am a loyal member. In my new role I want to ensure that our hills and valleys are alive with the sound of families going about their business on their farms.

"My dream is that someone from Wales is always there in Brussels fighting on our behalf for our future. I believe in the Welsh farming industry which I have been involved with all my life. I believe we need a strong union because farmers can't ensure their future by themselves."

He was the union's Meirionnydd county chairman from 1998 to 2000 and for many years represented the county branch on the central hill farming and marginal land committee, of which he is currently vice chairman.

He was elected to represent North Wales on the union's central finance and organisation committee in June 2000, a vice president in June 2002 and deputy president in 2003.

He is a prominent member of a number of organisations including the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society, the Welsh Black Cattle Society, and is a director of the Meirionnydd County Show.

He is also a former chairman of Meirionnydd Grassland Society.

His contribution to agriculture was recognised in 1995 when he became an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies and received the honour of Fellow in 2001.

His family farm has won several prizes over the years including the British Grassland Society's national grassland management competition in 2008, the Royal Welsh Show Farm Buildings and Facilities Award and the Snowdonia National Park Society Farming and Landscape Award.

The family has hosted several farm visits over the years by various organisations and societies. Mr Jones also devotes a great deal of time to community life, being a former chairman of the community council.

He is involved with his local show at Llangower and is also a deacon at his local chapel. He is passionately committed to the principles on which the FUW was established.

The new deputy president is Glyn Roberts, Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, who steps up from vice president.

In 1983 Mr Roberts secured the tenancy of Dylasau Uchaf, a 350-acre farm owned by the National Trust.

Since 2004 he has been one of the union's three vice presidents.

Dei Tomos, a familiar voice and face on BBC Radio Cymru and S4C programmes, was presented with an award by the Farmers' Union of Wales at the union's annual general meeting in Aberystwyth today (Friday, June 17) in recognition of his services to the farming industry.

Presenting him with the union's annual external award, FUW president Gareth Vaughan said: "Dei is highly respected in farming circles for his in-depth knowledge of agriculture and, in the wider community, for his love of the countryside.

"His early morning radio bulletins on Radio Cymru are essential listening for farmers throughout Wales and I'm delighted to present him with this award.

"Dei Tomos makes a valuable contribution every morning on Radio Cymru with the latest agricultural news and issues for those working within the farming industry," added Mr Vaughan.

Dei is currently responsible for the farming news on Radio Cymru every morning (Monday to Friday) as well as the Byd Amaeth programme on Saturday mornings which concerns farming, food production and the countryside. He also has a varied programme on Sunday nights which involves history and traditions, heritage, literature, art, music and the Welsh "pethe".

In the past, he has also presented television programmes about nature and wildlife, countryside and leisure, gardening and food as well as agriculture. In May 2009 he was made an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of agriculture through the media.

Dei was brought up in Waunfawr and Nantperis, and attended Waunfawr School, Caernarfon Grammar School and Bangor Normal College. He spent 12 years working with Urdd Gobaith Cymru as a county organiser in Montgomeryshire and as the deputy head of the Urdd Centre at Glan-llyn.

He has been active in the world of voluntary organisations concerning the Welsh countryside and is now a Welsh committee member of the National Lottery's Heritage Fund.

He has also been national chairman of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and remains one of the vice presidents of the organisation. He is also the vice president of the Council for National Parks (CNP).

He was appointed for three terms as a member of the Snowdonia National Park Authority by the Secretary of State for Wales and then was a member of the Countryside Council for Wales for 10 years. This was also an appointment made by the Secretary of State for Wales, initially, and subsequently by the Assembly Government.

Locally, he is a former member and chairman of governors at Ysgol Dolbadarn, Llanberis, and is a former community councillor. For some four years now he has been the clerk of the council.

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan - who retires today (Friday June 17) after eight years in the post - received the union's annual internal award for his services to the agricultural industry during the organisation's annual general meeting in Aberystwyth.

Mr Vaughan was elected North Wales member of the FUW's national finance and organisation committee in 1998 before being elected vice president in 2000, deputy president in June 2002 and president in June 2003.

His term in office has seen two outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, a devastating rise in bovine tuberculosis and a slump in farm incomes.

Paying tribute to him, FUW deputy president Emyr Jones said: "Gareth has been a towering presence within the FUW. He has represented us with great dignity and forcefulness during private meetings with Government Ministers and officials and at public engagements throughout Wales.

"He is a true champion of farming and a true champion of the FUW," added Mr Jones.

About his term in office, Mr Vaughan said many of the problems of the past eight years will remain on the agenda of the farming world.

"No-one could have predicted that we would live through two spells of foot-and-mouth and so many other animal health issues including the arrival of Bluetongue for the first time.

"Bovine TB was not really talked about eight years ago but now it's a serious problem in some parts of Wales."

Mr Vaughan runs a traditional beef and sheep unit at Cwmyrhiwdre Farm, Dolfor, near Newtown, in partnership with his wife of over 40 years, Audrey, and 13 years ago his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Brian joined the business.

Speaking about his retirement as president, Mr Vaughan said: "I will be getting my hands a bit dirty again and I've always enjoyed training sheepdogs and shooting so I'll be doing more of that.

"All my family are on the farm with me and we are very fortunate that we see our grandchildren every day," he added.

Born in Llanidloes in 1941, Mr Vaughan attended Manledd Primary and Llanidloes High Schools. He was chairman of the union's Newtown branch in 1988-89, Montgomeryshire county chairman from 1991-93 and has also represented the county on the union's grand council and land use and parliamentary committee, the British Wool Marketing Board, the Meat and Livestock Commission liaison committee and the Agricultural Dwellinghouse Committee.

Mr Vaughan was awarded the MBE in the 2011 New Year Honours List for services to agriculture and stated he was proud to accept the honour on behalf of all staff within the union who carry out such dedicated work.

He added that he owed a great deal to Llangurig YFC, which he joined after leaving school at 15, and the FUW, both of which "have been there for me" after "wasting so much of my school days".

An aggressive army of EU auditors incapable of understanding commonsense is undermining farmers' efforts by imposing draconian fines for red tape mistakes, retiring Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan said today.

He told the union's annual general meeting in Aberystwyth that confidence remained high within the industry in spite of numerous broken promises by politicians over plans to slash red tape and bureaucracy.

"Despite ongoing concerns over the age profile of our farming population, the enthusiasm of our young and upcoming farmers is something which continues to fill me with confidence about our future.

"However, as I think back to how our industry was almost a decade ago, and re-read some of the assurances given to us over the years, it seems that this confidence exists in spite of a host of broken promises.

"Foremost amongst these are the regular assurances by those who govern us over cuts to red tape and bureaucracy, and the broken promises which have followed, with Brussels standing out as a clear winner in the race to go back on their word."

Mr Vaughan said that in January 2007 the European Commission presented its Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU which, it claimed, showed "the way in which the Commission intends to work with Member States to cut administrative burdens on businesses by a quarter by 2012".

"But in the four and a half years since then, bureaucracy for farm businesses has escalated dramatically, coupled with draconian fines for those who make inadvertent and inconsequential mistakes," Mr Vaughan added.

"These fines are often implemented at the behest of an aggressive army of EU auditors which is seemingly incapable of understanding commonsense or proportionality.

"With just six months in which to 'cut administrative burdens on businesses by a quarter' and more EU red tape in the pipeline, it is clear that this statement represents just another broken promise.

"Yet for my successor there may be some light on the horizon because the Lisbon Treaty now means that our elected representatives are answerable for such failings.

"It is down to us - not just as a Union but also as individual farmers - to hold them accountable for their actions or inactions."

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today (Tuesday June 7) praised the Westminster government for publishing a draft bill for a Groceries Market Ombudsman following years of lobbying by the union for such an appointment.

During a meeting organised by Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Elfyn Llwyd, Mr Vaughan congratulated the minister and urged him to ensure an Act with powers to deal with abuses of power by supermarkets is granted Royal Ascent as soon as was possible.

"A good relationship between retailers and suppliers in the grocery market is important and we believe that all parties will benefit greatly from an independent body to monitor and regulate the sector."

On CAP reform, the FUW delegation told Mr Paice it was broadly supportive of the Dess Report, the European Parliament's draft report on the future of the CAP, but had major concerns about the impact of "greening measures" on food production when massive global food shortages were being predicted.

"We emphasised that any such measures must not adversely impact on production," said Mr Vaughan. "They should complement it by encouraging efficiencies which have environmental benefits and also lead to savings.

"We urged the minister to highlight this during talks with other Member States over the future of the CAP."

The FUW representatives drew the minister's attention to the importance of Welsh family farms and the essential contribution they make to food production and maintaining the natural environment.

"We also expressed concern about the impact that factory farms and super dairies would have on rural communities and the public's perception of farming.

"This reflected the view of the FUW's dairy committee which, earlier this year, supported a policy position opposing super dairies on the grounds that they would lower milk prices and drive family farms out of production."

The meeting also discussed a number of aspects pertinent to Wales of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force's recent report and union representatives emphasised the need to implement its recommendations at the earliest opportunity to minimise costs for businesses and government bodies alike.

"As long term campaigners against the EC's disproportionate penalty system, the union also welcomed the recommendations regarding CAP penalties," said Mr Vaughan.

"We pressed the minister to do all he could at an European level to ensure that the final post-2013 CAP regulations were proportionate in terms of administrative errors and inconsequential breaches of complex rules.

"Everybody agrees - whether they are farm inspectors or politicians - that the current penalty regime is completely disproportionate, yet EU auditors continue to bully Member States and regions into making the penalties and rules more and more draconian."

On bovine TB, Mr Vaughan told the minister the length of the Wales-England border, and the importance of cross border trade, made English TB an important issue for Welsh farmers, particularly given the number of cross border farms close to or in areas severely affected by TB.

"Many of our members with land in England are severely affected by this disease and action must be taken in order to reduce its prevalence in both England and Wales.

"Welsh efforts to drive forward with an eradication programme will be severely undermined if a major disease reservoir is allowed to continue to grow in England.

"For this reason, I urged the minister to press on with a badger cull in England which has been shown 'categorically' to be effective, and is still leading to benefits four and a half years after the last English cull came to an end.

"We also emphasised the importance of minimising red tape and costs associated with proposals to allow farmers to cull badgers, and asked that Defra work closely with the Welsh Government in ensuring any actions close to the border of Wales did not have an adverse impact on Welsh farmers."

The delegation also touched on a number of broader issues relating to the rural economy and highlighted the severe impact fuel prices were having for rural businesses.

"We are already paying higher tax because the 4x4 vehicles we rely on are being classed as unnecessary luxuries - in other words Chelsea tractors - in addition to which our rural businesses are being crippled by fuel costs which are higher than in urban areas.

"The reality is that there are no alternatives such as public transport and government should recognise this by reducing costs for rural dwellers, for example by giving them a fuel tax rebate."

The EC's failure to allow rules which deal with technological failures while using electrical instruments to read electronic sheep identification (EID) tags was slammed by Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today (Wednesday May 18).

Speaking at the NSA Welsh Sheep Event near Machynlleth, Mr Vaughan revealed he had written to the EC's agriculture and rural affairs commissioner Dacian CioloÕs and health and consumer policy commissioner John Dalli expressing the union's deep concern and dismay at the EC's response to discussions on tolerance levels for the "inherent and unavoidable problems" associated with compulsory sheep EID.

"The rules in place at the time of the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak were a world away from those which came into force in subsequent years, yet the tragedy which befell UK farmers then is being used to justify regulations which require the use of a technology which cannot deliver the accuracy required by those same rules" said Mr Vaughan, a Newtown sheep farmer.

"It is basically a Catch 22 Regulation which is tailor made to create financial penalties for farm businesses, and we had therefore been in discussion to ensure that the inherent shortcomings of the technology were recognised."

Mr Vaughan added that the EC is well aware of the problems with EID technology after being repeatedly presented with evidence which confirms it is not yet capable of delivering 100% accuracy, and had initially accepted the need for dialogue over changes which took these failings into account.

But at a meeting between the UK's devolved administrations and EU officials last week, at which a paper on tolerances was discussed, EC staff were dismissive of any approach which takes account of problems with the technology.

"This leads to the ridiculous situation whereby EC regulations require all those in the supply chain to record animal movements with 100% accuracy using a technology which - despite meeting standards set by the EC - cannot deliver such accuracy, and for farmers to then be financially penalised for these failings."

"Many farmers are now under the impression that the Commission's intention is to deliberately generate penalties by enforcing the use of an expensive technology which cannot deliver full compliance."

Mr Vaughan urged both European commissioners to ensure their officials take a proportionate approach to the issue of tolerances or provide guidance as to how all businesses involved in the supply chain can affordably get technology, which meets EC standards, to deliver "100% accuracy 100% of the time".

The Farmers'Union of Wales has once again urged the Westminster Government to appoint a Grocery Market Ombudsman without delay in a bid to end unfair market practices.

The union stressed its concerns in a letter to Defra Secretary of State Caroline Spelman pointing out it is almost five years since the Office of Fair Trading authorised an initial investigation by the Competition Commission which published its final report in 2008.

The setting up of a Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) in February last year marked the first of the key remedies outlined in the report.

The Government later announced it would proceed with the establishment of an Ombudsman to oversee the GSCOP and the FUW has responded to two separate consultations about the powers and roles of such an adjudicator.

"But more than a year after the first consultation on the introduction of an Ombudsman the industry still remains void of such a body," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan in his letter to Mrs Spelman.

The issue was also raised at the union's milk and dairy produce committee, meeting at its headquarters in Aberystwyth on Thursday, when members felt that without an Ombudsman the GSCOP remained hollow and ineffectual.

"Over the last decade the FUW has consistently argued that the UK Government should take the action necessary to redress the imbalance in the powers held by primary producers, processors and retailers,"" said Mr Vaughan.

"We are urging the new Government to remain committed to the establishment of a groceries adjudicator with sufficient powers to address the concerns raised by the Competition Commission.

"In 2010 the Grocery Market Ombudsman Bill brought forward by Ynys Mon MP Mr Albert Owen received cross party support and presented an ideal opportunity to take forward the establishment of a supermarket Ombudsman," added Mr Vaughan.

The Farmers' Union of Wales' milk and dairy produce committee today gave its full backing to a milk price formula produced by National Farmers Union Scotland which could fundamentally alter the dynamics of the UK milk market.

The unanimous backing followed a meeting of the committee at the union's head office near Aberystwyth during which NFU Scotland's chief executive James Withers outlined their proposals.

The formula, which is based on the widely recognised market indicators of Actual Milk Price Equivalent (AMPE) and Milk for Cheese Value Equivalent (MCVE), in a 20% to 80% split - or variations thereof, was identified by a producer working group set by the Scottish union.

Supporters of the formula believe it could form the foundation for prices which, while continuing to vary between contracts, nevertheless represent the true value of milk. This would reflect a supply and demand dynamic that UK milk prices have failed to recognise over the last decade.

Speaking after the meeting, FUW dairy committee chairman Eifion Huws said: "The FUW has always welcomed the opportunity to work with other UK farming organisations to further the interests of farming families, and we welcome the work and enthusiasm put into this initiative by NFU Scotland.

"Committee members scrutinised the proposals at length, and many of the key issues which have faced the dairy industry over the years were discussed."

Mr Huws said the committee fully recognised that the proposal is a starting point for further discussions. However, it was felt that the union should support it as a move towards greater transparency and a means by which to break the cycle of rhetoric and action that has dominated dairy politics for decades.

Mr Withers said: "If a market-related pricing formula were incorporated as a baseline into producer contracts, it would break the cycle of market failure in the dairy supply chain.

"Such a move could allow dairy farmers, irrespective of whom they sell their milk to, to move forward with improved confidence and greater certainty. It would also deliver sustainability, which is in the best interest of whole supply chain."

Following the committee's backing for the proposals, the FUW will look at further ways in which the proposal can be developed and promoted.

"With dairy farmers in both Scotland and Wales leaving the industry in droves, something desperately needs to be done," said Mr Huws.

"A contract which incorporated this kind of formula could prevent our prices consistently being lower than those on the continent, provide significant transparency, which is what Europe wants, and could put much needed confidence and stability back into the market."