The main issue that worries the farming community in my region is TB and that’s why I was pleased to hear the recent announcement by Plaid’s Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones. The decision by the Minister to press on with plans for a localised cull of badgers is a brave and necessary one and it’s a decision that should be welcomed. With Plaid now in government, this issue will be addressed because for far too long this growing TB crisis has gone unaddressed by Wales’ government.

In 2008 over 12,000 cattle were slaughtered which was 52% more than in 2007. In1997 the number of cattle slaughtered was 669 and when you look at these figures you will realise how much of a problem TB is to the agricultural industry and to the countryside in general. Indeed, the incidence of bovine TB continues to rise in Wales and consequently its impact on the farming industry, Government and taxpayer continues to increase. The cost is something that certainly needs to be addressed because in the next financial year the One Wales Government faces the prospect of spending over £30million on TB compensation. This is an enormous amount of money and it is money that is not being spent elsewhere in agriculture or in health or in education.

Bovine TB is a chronic, debilitating, infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). It has a significant impact on the health and welfare of the national cattle herd in Wales, and the rest of the UK. It is transmissible to humans and other mammals including badgers and deer, which means it has serious implications beyond the health of cattle.

The EU now requires each member state to develop an eradication programme in order to “accelerate, intensify or carry through” the eradication of the disease and that’s why The Welsh Assembly Government has a commitment in the One Wales programme of government to vigorously pursue a programme of TB eradication in Wales and has earmarked £27m over the next three years to take this forward.

As I said this was of course a tough decision to make but it is a decision that had to be made because if we sit back and ignore the issue for much longer then the results could be devastating to the agricultural community. It has already been left to escalate for many years and by taking this action it will not only benefit the agricultural industry in general but it will also ensure that that we have healthy wildlife. I now hope that people will support the decision and realise how important it is for us to take action.