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The UFU said they remain determined to ensure none of the 'barbaric proposals' come to pass and will continue to 'exhaust every avenue to safeguard the future of NI's agri industry'

The plans will be subjected to a five-week consultation and would look to retain badger culling as an option in targeted parts only of the high-risk area and edge areas including much of southwest and central England

James farms Dairy Shorthorns east of Kendal, Cumbria, with his parents Kathleen and Henry, wife Michelle and sons Robert and Chris. The fifth generation to farm at Strickley, he is also vice-chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network

The Department for Agriculture, environment and rural affairs have issued a proposal to reduce the compensation rate for cattle removed under the bovine Tuberculosis programme

Normally the family aim to milk a herd of around 120 cows, but at the moment they are only milking 70 cows

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He said the cull would continue in the short term, adding there was enough reason to see it was a way of ‘preventing transmission'. But he added it was not a ‘sustainable answer to the problem' and wanted to work with farmers to develop the cattle vaccine

Dairy farmer Susie Mottershead said Joyce Watson's MS comments that dairy farmers with chronic TB should find another business was a kick in the teeth. "Never have I felt the mental health of farmers be so completely disregarded. We are that chronic bTB farm," she said

The Government's commitment to continue with the badger cull has been criticised by NFU as 'just warm words' which must be backed up in writing with a policy change

Joyce Watson's comments in the Senedd last week that dairy farms with perpetual TB 'should find another business' sparked fury amongst Welsh farmers and unions