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Farming

Wales legislates for ‘industry-led approach’ to tackle Bovine Viral Diarrhoea

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NEXT MONTH (Jul 1), the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Wales) Order 2024 will be introduced to facilitate an industry-led approach to eradicating the disease.

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is a widespread viral disease affecting cattle, which can lead to abortion, infertility, deformed calves, and compromised herd health and welfare, particularly among young stock. Herds infected with BVD often experience increased cases of calf pneumonia and scours, as well as reduced productivity and other cattle health and welfare issues. BVD is not recognised to be a risk to public health or food safety.

Cattle sector representatives and Welsh Government have been closely working together to develop legislation to facilitate the next steps towards the eradication of BVD in Wales. This compulsory phase of the industry-led BVD eradication programme starts this summer.

Eradicating BVD from Wales will improve standards of animal health and welfare and help Wales achieve its Net Zero targets sooner. Eradicating BVD from a typical Welsh herd of 40 cattle could reduce the carbon footprint by around 70,200kg CO2e annually.

In addition, eradication should bring significant farm-level financial benefits stemming from improved cattle health, welfare, and productivity, including increased milk yield and reproduction rates.

From 1st July 2024, the industry-led BVD legislation that Welsh Government is introducing will require keepers to:

  1. Screen their herds for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) annually by testing a small number of cattle.
  2. Isolate Persistently Infected (PI) animals from the rest of the herd for the remainder of their lives.
  3. Cattle keepers will have until 1st July 2025 to complete their annual herd test.

These measures will support the innovative, industry-led approach to stopping the spread of BVD, safeguarding animal welfare, and maintaining a healthy and sustainable cattle industry in Wales. Cattle industry representatives, with Welsh Government assistance, will set up a Wales BVD governance body involving a comprehensive partnership and farmer support structure to facilitate BVD eradication efforts.

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “I understand and appreciate the serious impact of BVD, not just on standards of animal health and welfare, but also the impact on production and the serious economic costs of this disease to farm businesses.

“The eradication of BVD in Wales is a long-standing commitment, and I fully support industry and Government working together in close partnership to achieve this outcome.”

Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Dr Richard Irvine, said: “The benefits of being BVD-free include increased cattle health, welfare, productivity and fertility. Eliminating BVD can reduce costs and the carbon footprint of your herd. Maintaining a BVD-free status strengthens the health and welfare of our cattle farms in Wales, and can also help reduce antibiotic usage.

Embarking on this next phase of the BVD eradication programme in Wales is a really important step. I would like to recognise the industry-led approach, backed up by this new BVD legislation. We can achieve eradication through the ongoing efforts of all cattle farmers, working closely with their vets, to screen and protect their herds from BVD.”

Supporting comments:

John Griffiths, Head of Agricultural Research & Development and former manager of the Gwaredu BVD scheme, said: “It’s very important for us to work to eradicate BVD from our herds in Welsh, and this is one disease which is possible to eradicate. Many other countries are working to get rid of the disease and Welsh will now join Ireland, Scotland, and England to get rid of the disease.”

Dr Neil Paton, from Royal Veterinary College, said: “The BVD virus causes a huge impact on the welfare of cattle and getting rid of the virus will mean a much healthier cattle population and a much more productive one too”.

Farming

Farming funding fears as Welsh government warns of major cuts

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A CHANGE in the UK government’s approach to funding for Welsh agriculture has sparked serious concerns, with First Minister Eluned Morgan warning that the shift could see Wales lose nearly £150m a year in farm support.

Concerned for farmers: First Minister Eluned Morgan MS

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has cautioned that the funding formula change could amount to a cut of more than 40%, raising alarm across the industry. The UK government has decided to stop ring-fencing farm support, meaning future allocations will be absorbed into the general funding provided to the Welsh government.

Morgan, addressing MPs at Westminster’s Welsh Affairs Committee, said the move was “a huge concern” and argued that it fails to reflect the higher proportion of farmers in Wales compared to other parts of the UK.

Funding shake-up

The change, first announced in last October’s UK Budget, will see farm funding calculated under the Barnett formula, which determines the Welsh government’s overall budget. Under Barnett, Wales receives around 5% of spending increases in England for devolved matters like health and education, but agricultural leaders argue that this method does not take into account the unique demands of Welsh farming.

Morgan, leader of Welsh Labour, told the committee: “If you just do a Barnett consequential, you’re talking about a 5% [increase], whereas, actually, when it comes to agriculture we should be significantly higher than that.

“It is a huge concern that this has been changed.”

Political pressure mounts

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster agriculture spokesperson Ann Davies said the UK government had failed to provide clarity on how Wales’ higher proportion of farmers would be considered under the new system.

“The Labour first minister now expressing concerns only reinforces the urgency of this issue,” she said. “The UK government must guarantee that Welsh agriculture will not lose out in the future.”

A UK government spokesperson defended the changes, saying: “The Budget provided the Welsh government with a record £21bn settlement, and it receives over 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK government spending.

“It is for the Welsh government to allocate this across its devolved responsibilities, which include agriculture, to deliver on the priorities of people in Wales and support the Welsh rural economy.”

Wider economic worries

During the committee session, Morgan also raised concerns over potential new tariffs on steel imposed by former US President Donald Trump. The proposed 25% import tariff could threaten Welsh steel exports, with the first minister revealing she had already discussed the issue with Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

“I’m sure we are all very concerned to see what President Trump is suggesting in terms of steel tariffs, and we don’t know where that is going to end,” Morgan said.

The first minister is later due to attend a dinner at Windsor Castle hosted by the King, alongside UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Crime

Warning of heavy fines for farms as six Romanians found working at dairy farm

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ILLEGAL WORKERS DISCOVERED IN MID WALES RAID

A DAIRY FARM in Llangedwyn, Powys, faces heavy fines after immigration officers arrested six Romanian workers found working illegally during a dawn raid on January 28. The business owners could now be fined up to £60,000 per worker and face a possible prison sentence if found guilty of failing to carry out proper employment checks.

The arrests come as part of a major crackdown on illegal working across Wales and the West of England. Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams carried out 121 visits last month, resulting in 101 arrests—more than double the number recorded in January 2024.

Tougher action against illegal working

Officials say enforcement activity has reached record levels, with 609 arrests made nationwide in January—an increase of 73 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance & Crime, said:

“Despite many premises in the region being in rural locations, these numbers show there is no hiding place from the law. We will come after any business that thinks it can exploit illegal workers for its own gain.”

Since last summer, both illegal working visits and arrests have risen by 38 per cent, with the Home Office issuing 1,090 civil penalty notices to businesses hiring illegal workers.

New law to target people smugglers

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, set to be debated in Parliament today, will give law enforcement new powers to target people-smuggling gangs and disrupt illegal migration. The legislation will allow officers to search electronic devices for evidence of organised crime.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit illegal migrants with little to no enforcement. Not only does this create a dangerous draw for people to risk their lives crossing the Channel in small boats, but it results in the abuse of vulnerable people and undermines our economy.

“That’s why we are boosting enforcement to record levels alongside tough new legislation to crack down on the criminal gangs that profit from illegal migration.”

Record removals of illegal migrants

Alongside the crackdown on illegal working, the Home Office says it is stepping up deportations of those with no legal right to remain in the UK. Since the election, 16,400 people have been removed, including criminals convicted of drug offences, theft, rape, and murder.

Bespoke charter flights have returned over 800 immigration offenders to their countries of origin, marking the highest removals since 2018.

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Farming

Pembrokeshire Farmer Mansel Raymond Elected Chair of CARAS Cymru

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PEMBROKESHIRE farmer Mansel Raymond MBE FRAgS has been elected as the new Chair of CARAS Cymru, the prestigious Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies, following his unanimous election by the CARAS Cymru Council in January.

He will serve a two-year term, succeeding Janet Phillips FRAgS, who stepped down after a distinguished tenure as Chair.

CARAS is a highly regarded awarding body that recognises individual who have made exceptional contributions to agricultural and rural progress across the UK. With national panels representing each of the four UK nations, CARAS Cymru plays a key role in celebrating and honouring the achievements of individuals in Welsh agriculture.

Mansel Raymond, a well-respected figure in the agricultural community, leads a family partnership in Pembrokeshire alongside his brother, their wives, and sons.

Over the years, he has held numerous high-level positions across the agricultural industry, including President of Copa Cogeca Milk Board, past Director of First Milk, European Milk Chairman, and Chairman of the NFU’s Milk Board. He has also served as Pembrokeshire County Chairman for NFU Cymru and as past President of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.

In response to his election, Mansel said, “It is a huge honour to take on the role of Chair of CARAS Cymru. I’m deeply proud to be involved with an organisation that recognises the remarkable individuals who shape our agricultural industry.”

He added, “I also want to extend my gratitude to Janet Phillips for her exemplary leadership during her tenure as Chair. Her contributions have been invaluable, and I hope to build upon the strong foundation she leaves behind.”

Mansel will be joined by Malcolm Thomas MBE FRAgS, who has been elected as the new Vice Chairman of CARAS Cymru. Malcolm, from Llangynog in Carmarthenshire, brings a wealth of experience, having had a long and distinguished career in agriculture. He is a former Director of NFU Cymru and has served as a trustee of various charities and organisations throughout his career.

Both Mansel and Malcolm are committed to furthering CARAS Cymru’s ambition to recognise and honour outstanding achievements within agriculture, rural life, and the wider rural economy

Malcolm Thomas MBE FRAgS Vice-Chair CARAS Cymru
Malcolm Thomas MBE FRAgS Vice-Chair CARAS Cymru
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