On a recent farm visit Catherine Fookes, Labour AM Candidate for Monmouth Constituency met Gary Yeomans, Chair of NFU Cymru.

Monmouthshire farmers had asked Catherine to raise the issue of bovine TB - the infectious disease of cattle - with Rebecca Evans, the Deputy Minister for Food and Farming. In 2012, the Welsh Government established a vaccination programme to reduce the potential for the spread of infection from badgers to cattle.

Catherine reported that 5,500 doses of the BCG vaccine have already been administered to badgers. As a result, 94.4% of herds are free from TB in Wales and work continues to identify disease patterns. However the programme has been temporarily suspended because there is a global shortage of the BCG vaccine and human health must take priority.

Catherine also asked the Minister about progress in paying out Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) entitlements to Monmouth Constituency farmers. This scheme pays eligible farmers to protect and enhance the countryside. She told Mr Yeomans that Rural Payments Wales is working hard to get all payments to farmers by the end of April.

Catherine Fookes commented: "This year only 66% of Welsh farmers had received their Basic Payment by the end of January, whereas last year most received their payments by the end of December. I am concerned that so many farmers cannot make plans because they have no idea when they will be paid.

“If elected I will work with farmers’ unions, Welsh Government and Rural Payments Wales to ensure that farmers know when to expect payment. The current system is causing a lot of uncertainty and farmers need more information on when they will be paid. This is vitally important for farmers in this constituency."

Mr Yeomans said: “It was helpful to share some of my concerns with Ms Fookes. Farmers are frustrated because they don’t know when their BPS payments will arrive – and they desperately need this kind of basic information. I am pleased Catherine is taking this issue up with the Welsh Government."