Confidence badger cull will commence
The National Farmers Union (NFU) have said it is confident the outstanding issues remaining on the Gloucestershire badger control licence application will be resolved in time for culling to commence this autumn.
Though Natural England have already issued a provisional licence last week, a full licence cannot be granted until a number of details have been finalised. This means that culling cannot yet begin in the pilot area of West Gloucestershire.
Natural England still need to agree both upper and lower badger kill limits with the company set up to organise the culls. It also needs to complete training of those contractors who will perform the culling.
If the six-week cull is to take place this year, they need to begin by mid-October at the latest, in order to finish before the badger breeding season begins.
The NFU Gloucestershire chairman, Charles Mann, said: "We have now got to do our work to fulfil the licence conditions but I am confident it will start this autumn."
Despite legal challenges, both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Natural England say they have no intention to delay piloting the culls.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
