2021
April
2020
November
As Farming Today continues it's week-long focus on bovine TB, today it tackled the badger cull and interviewed NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts on the impact on farmers and the government’s TB eradication strategy. Listen back from 7 mins.
Dairy farmer Max Sealy featured on BBC Radio 4's Today programme (21 mins) as they looked into the badger cull, and outlined the impact TB has on farming families.
In this month's edition of the Countryfile magazine, they go behind the headlines on bTB and the badger cull, quoting NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts who emphasised the devastating financial and emotional impact on farmers. Vet Sarah Tomlinson, who sits on the NFU's TB group, also featured.
July
Defra announces field trials for cattle vaccination
inews reported the news that field trials of a skin test and vaccine against bTB will kick off next year. NFU President Minette Batters is quoted explaining how we hope this will help us to understand the potential role of cattle vaccination as part of a complete bovine TB eradication strategy.
On BBC Farming Today, dairy farmer and NFU appointed board member Phil Latham gave a cautious reaction to the announcement of the field trials - he said there's a long way to go.
May
Judicial review of ban on Derbyshire badger cull
National print reported the NFU’s legal challenge against the government for deciding against issuing a licence for a badger cull in Derbyshire last year was unsuccessful. NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts was quoted by the Press Association emphasising that the decision was made against absolutely all the scientific and veterinary advice and left farmers in the Derbyshire area, who met all the licence criteria, completely devastated.
BBC News reported that Natural England has approved seven new badger culling sites as part of government efforts to control tuberculosis in cattle. The piece mentions the NFU’s legal challenge to the revoking of culling licenses in Derbyshire last year.
Godfray Review on TB strategy
NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Farming Today in response to the review where he said culling is a vital tool to enable the industry to get on top of the disease quickly and reduce further transmission.
If you missed @BBCFarmingToday, listen here for NFU Deputy President @HertsFarmer explaining why a comprehensive TB strategy is needed to eradicate the devastating disease ?? https://t.co/LEeXJrhNfV pic.twitter.com/bVZP5S3QFG
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets) March 6, 2020
BBC Radio 4 Today spoke to NFU livestock board member David Barton about the impact of TB on his farm and that the TB strategy must be based on science and evidence.
Gloucestershire Beef Farmer @farmerdbarton told @bbcradio4today that he is now TB free thanks to wide range of measures designed to eradicate the disease. Catch up here?? https://t.co/mizdGLl8Fv pic.twitter.com/iWk2xeeI3D
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets) March 6, 2020
The NFU's response also featured across national newspapers. Read the articles here:
2019
October
Downs report
NFU Vice President Stuart Roberts was quoted across national print media saying the research shows the effectiveness culling has on reducing TB levels in cattle.
One of the articles included the i paper where he featured alongsidelivestock board member David Barton who shared his TB story.
The NFU questioned why the BBC highlighted data looking at TB levels in Dorset, despite the report's authors saying it was not statistically significant.
This headline is misleading. Peer-reviewed research shows badger culling can result in significant reductions in TB in cattle. The report’s authors say the Dorset data is NOT statistically significant. Why is @BBCNews headline not representing the facts? https://t.co/S4f0SkSRnw
— National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets) October 11, 2019
ZSL study on TB transmission
A study led by the Zoological Society of London and Imperial College London reported that badger culling potentially increases the chance of TB transmission to other animals.
NFU Vice President Stuart Roberts told BBC News he believed culling was reducing the incidence of bTB.
