THE BADGER CULL

jondear

Member
Location
Devon
For anyone that thinks, "I don't have cattle so why should I sign up"

Remember this, the culls have been structured so the industry takes the lead, this allows us to show how serious we are about dealing with the problem.

The flip side of this is that if the zones fail to get their required sign up, the government will be able to turn around and say "well farmers had the chance but didn't care enough to do it", it gives the government a chance to wash their hands.

My point is, today the problem is TB in cattle, tomorrow it could be something entirerly different in another sector, if we as a industry don't work together now to make a success of the culls, we will not get further assistance on other potential threats in the future.

A failure now is giving the government a free pass at our cost.


Re- the protected status, there is absolutely zero chance of that being revoked,
I like most folk would like to see it changed, but it ain't going to happen, no political party is going to touch that with a barge pole, hence the culls are as they are.

Re- non cattle farmers, forget TB, many sheep farmers have experienced badger attacks on lambs, arable farmers have crops rolled and rooted by badgers.
Obviously there's a whole wildlife issue, including the health of the badgers themselves!


Re- deer, my understanding is that deer are a overspill of the disease just like cattle, so comments that the badger cull is pointless unless the deer are sorted aren't quite right, deer are mostly actively managed anyway,
If the source of infection (badgers are controlled) then surely the knock on benefit will be a massive reduction in deer TB?


Finally those who have a chance to actually do something, spare a though for NT tenants, who have been firmly told they can not take part.
NT Tennant's !what if you have NT all around you that doesn't give me much chance of getting involved in cull and being successful .Just going to migrate on to our place !
 
Location
Devon
Dose it matter ?
Some very good posts, and with the hopeful expansion of culls over the next year or two, plenty of others must be going through the same thought process.

Yep it matters 100% given the comments the OP made but has not backed up in the opening post.

Personally I think that this thread should be deleted by admin given the very sensitive nature of the topic and the fact the OP has posted once and is now nowhere to be seen!

@llamedos
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
Even if I could cast a dodgy vote from over here, I would. I feel for you all. At least we have a high farmer to naysayer ratio here, and possums deer and pigs aren't protected so we just have at the barstewards on sight..
Affects me less than the OP, but I see the merit of lobbying as one clearly united group. Nothing spoils momentum like a lack of unity. I feel this is probably your moment of guaranteeing your future as you know it.
@exmoor dave [emoji17] condolences
 

thesilentone

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
I have always been proud that I feel there has to be opposing views to every argument / discussion and both should be heard and considered.

Back around 2006 at the National Dairy Conference there was a speaker from the Badger Trust as well as a farmer (from Salisbury Plain I think) both giving there side to the problem. The farmer had been in lockdown for some considerable time, and almost wished he'd had foot and mouth as at least the problem would have been dealt with and passed. The Badger Trust, although sympathetic stood their corner and pushed the vaccination of cattle, the problem was growing but manageable at this stage.

We are now in 2017, the problem is endemic, our compassion and willingness to consider and delay and wait and see, has multiplied the problem 10 fold.

Action is required now..........
 

llamedos

New Member
Yep it matters 100% given the comments the OP made but has not backed up in the opening post.

Personally I think that this thread should be deleted by admin given the very sensitive nature of the topic and the fact the OP has posted once and is now nowhere to be seen!

@llamedos

No sorry, as @Water Wheel points out, some good posts & a I am sure others would have liked to pose a similar question.
 
Yep it matters 100% given the comments the OP made but has not backed up in the opening post.

Personally I think that this thread should be deleted by admin given the very sensitive nature of the topic and the fact the OP has posted once and is now nowhere to be seen!

@llamedos

Why shouldn't it be discussed

I've not got any issue at all with the cull (I don't necessarily believe that it is going to 'cure' TB, but willing to be proven wrong).

We have another business that runs from the farm and uses the farm name etc in it's marketing, and a big social media following. There is enough else going on in our lives that we don't need a big backlash.

I would suggest there is quite a lot of pressure being put on families like us to sign up for the cull, rightly or wrongly.
 

thesilentone

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
Why shouldn't it be discussed

I've not got any issue at all with the cull (I don't necessarily believe that it is going to 'cure' TB, but willing to be proven wrong).

We have another business that runs from the farm and uses the farm name etc in it's marketing, and a big social media following. There is enough else going on in our lives that we don't need a big backlash.

I would suggest there is quite a lot of pressure being put on families like us to sign up for the cull, rightly or wrongly.

Ultimately you will do what you want, however by opening up the discussion you have let everyone vent their views. Although badgers have carried TB for ever and a day (allegedly) I personally think we imported additional problems after F&M in 2001/2. The mushrooming of the spread from mid 2000's and today needs stopped, it will start to affect public health.
 

kill

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South West
Why shouldn't it be discussed

I've not got any issue at all with the cull (I don't necessarily believe that it is going to 'cure' TB, but willing to be proven wrong).

We have another business that runs from the farm and uses the farm name etc in it's marketing, and a big social media following. There is enough else going on in our lives that we don't need a big backlash.

I would suggest there is quite a lot of pressure being put on families like us to sign up for the cull, rightly or wrongly.
Fully agree re the pressure and thing's that have been said to my area cordernators in confidential manners haven't stayed confidential :devil: so will things change as time goes on???
Not impressed either in my area as farmer's are being told they are the only ones unsigned (major area cordernators) and all their neighbours will be against them and shunned for not signing but the farmer's know better:banghead:.
I'd rather be told the truth and lead nicely rather than be threatened in one form or another:(.
Never been impressed by bullies .
 
Last edited:
Location
Devon
Why shouldn't it be discussed

I've not got any issue at all with the cull (I don't necessarily believe that it is going to 'cure' TB, but willing to be proven wrong).

We have another business that runs from the farm and uses the farm name etc in it's marketing, and a big social media following. There is enough else going on in our lives that we don't need a big backlash.

I would suggest there is quite a lot of pressure being put on families like us to sign up for the cull, rightly or wrongly.

Well the current culls are reducing TB in cattle by 70/80% so without a shadow of a doubt badger culling works.

Very little pressure is being put on farmers to sign upto the cull and you are clearly making a blatant lie about this because looking at your posting history you are clearly biased against large farms/ intensive farming etc ( for example your comment on another thread that if a dairy farmer sends slurry tankers past your house you would be complaining about it ) I could go on.....

Oh and ref your other business the badger culls are legal and backed by the law of the land you are you really saying that mob rule should take precedent in the UK?? ( and as an example say someone like the mafia set up shop in your area and said : unless you pay us protection money we will put you out of business,,, because that is NO different than refusing to sign upto the cull because it might be bad PR for your business!! )
 
Location
Devon
The OP has replied to PMs
They are in quite a difficult position
I sympathise with The situation, but very much hope they sign up

No excuse not to sign up but if its such an issue then perhaps the OP should consider relocating into a city somewhere.

All very well people having views but unless TB costs you 100.000s and you don't know if you will be able to trade from one day to the next and have stood in your yard and seen one after the other 8 month in calf cow/ heifer being shot then im sorry to be blunt you have no idea what your talking about as its utterly devastating and has driven thousands of farms out of business and people to suicide etc so yes feelings are very high on this subject and thus why this thread ( which clearly is designed to cause negative PR against a badger cull ) should be deleted.

@llamedos
 

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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