THE Badger Trust continues to waste its own funds and public money by challenging the legality of the pilot culls.

Last Friday, the Administrative Court dismissed its claim and, Liz Truss, who succeeded Owen Paterson as Secretary of State, announced that the culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire would go ahead.

Meanwhile, Dominic Dyer, the chief executive of the trust, labelled the Government’s policy a shambles; but it is hard to give a man credibility who last year accused the NFU president of complicity in gassing badgers.

Although later he had to apologise for the accusation, Princess Anne subsequently suggested that gassing may be a more effective and humane method of control.

Subject to a bit more information, I think I agree.

 

• Although I disapproved strongly of the manner in which Owen Paterson was dismissed, I have to say that his successor Liz Truss is making all the right noises, which I am sure are almost entirely due to her Yorkshire upbringing.

Here is a flavour of her views expressed in an interview at the weekend: l Red Tape – “bureaucracy, whether from Brussels or Westminster is hampering farmers and needs to be cut down” is a direct quotation; l Flooding – She has worked with Drainage Boards in her Norfolk constituency and she is keen to fast-track the river maintenance pilots launched in selected areas last year.

She has already met with the Environment Agency’s chairman to start the ball rolling; l Three Crop Rule – the new diversification rules do not want to become a strait jacket and she is trying to implement them in as flexible a way as possible so that food production is not affected; l GM Crops – Her policy is that if we want our farms to be productive, we need to have the GM technology available to us which other countries are now using across the world; l Badger Cull – She has made it clear that she intends to carry out this autumn’s pilot culls and then to roll it out to other areas next year; l On Farm Renewable Energy – Interestingly she regards farm waste as an efficient way to produce energy but distinguishes very clearly between that process and current quite fashionable suggestions that productive agricultural land should be used for creating energy rather than food.

Let us hope that her deeds live up to the words.

 

• In a conscious effort to give you a balanced picture on fracking, I would draw attention to an article in the Sunday Times, which stated that the Government’s valuation office had indicated that residential values may be reduced as a result of shale mining prospects.

There doesn’t seem to be any evidence over the past 50 years or so that this has happened in the UK where we have carried out oil and gas exploration; and there doesn’t seem to be any good reason why this should change for the fracking process but time will tell.

What is certain is that the official Valuation Office Agency has only committed itself to reviewing a council tax band when a resident supplies information supporting a reduction.

Blighting is a serious problem be it due to any construction or engineering activity but it should not be ruled by emotion.

 

• Since the momentous planning decision a fortnight ago, the developers, the Fitzwilliam Trust and the Farmers Company have rapidly been taking stock with a statement issued that “the next steps are to draw up detailed plans for the new livestock market and get on site as soon as possible”.

The directors are anxious to progress the work rapidly with a view to construction starting within the next few months; as we are too well aware that the current lease on the existing market expires in the first week of October and we desperately need a stay of execution. Our chairman, Pat Foxton, returns from holiday to take up the construction flag next week and once farmers have got a bit of the autumn land work behind them I am sure they will start to focus on this new exciting project.

 

• Despite Putin’s gross misconduct, the EU has responded by ineffectually tickling the Russian bear, resulting in the president petulantly imposing a total ban on western grain.

In the past week, good harvest potential has been realised in both the US and Europe, even if quality is a bit mixed; and this has been balanced by the Russian antics and a drought in the north east of China.

The result has been a pretty steady market for grain with wheat up to £120/tonne if you can get it; barley certainly over £100/tonne and OSR sticking doggedly around £240/tonne with very little trading.

If the Russian threats turn out to be hollow then a bit of corn sold now would be a wise move.