A simulated FMD national scale outbreak is to be carried out on 9/10 November 2010 to test the Government's ability to respond to disease and identify improvements that could be made to processes and plans. Further information is available on the Animal Health website.
Following recent reports in the media that Britain's national forests are to be sold off, Wales' Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has dismissed these reports in the context of Welsh forests stating that this would be a "devolved matter". Her full statement is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website.
The attached version of the Electronic Communications Code is, as far as we are aware, the only consolidated version available. It was included as an appendix to CAAV numbered publication 201 - Telecommunications Masts. Download The Electronic Communications Code
The Welsh Assembly Government has launched their new Glastir Woodland Creation Grant Scheme to encourage farmers in Wales to create new woodland areas on their land. The Scheme will be administered by the Forestry Commission Wales until 1st January 2013 when delivery responsibility will pass to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). To view further details of the Scheme and application process please log-in to "Members' Documents". A news release is available on the WAG website....
The Welsh Assembly Government has published a written statement in reaction to the details of the Spending Review which were given on 20th October. Please see the Welsh Assembly Government website for the statement.
DEFRA is to see its resource spending cut by 29%, capital spending by 34% and a 33% reduction in its administrative budget as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Specific detail of what real effect this will have is awaited but further information and briefing is available in a CAAV website note in Members' Documents (please log-in to view). Please also see the DEFRA website.
The UK Government has concluded that following the findings of the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study the scheme will not be pursued for the time being but may be looked at again in the future. The Feasibility Study is available on the DECC website. Welsh Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, has thanked all those involved with the study - please see the Welsh Assembly Government website for a news release....
Agricultural Ministers from the UK and Germany met yesterday to discuss Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform post 2013. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
Mary Creagh MP for Wakefield has been appointed as the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is also understood that Jamie Reed MP, Willie Bain MP and Peter Soulsby MP will be the shadow junior DEFRA ministers. Further information is available on the Labour Party website.
The entry level element (All-Wales Element) of the new Welsh agri-environment scheme, Glastir, opens for applications on Monday 4th October. Application packs should start to be sent out to Welsh farmers who indicated an expression of interest on their 2010 SAF from that date. The close date for submission of applications is 22nd November 2010. Further information is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website....
The CAAV Fees Survey 2010 is being circulated to members by e-mail this year, via Local Association Secretaries. Please do complete and return your survey by 4th October 2010, to assist us in producing an accurate report of fees being charged across the profession. The results will be published on the website later in the autumn.
In advance of the mailing of the September CAAV News Letter, the CAAV Costings Schedule for 2010 is now available to members on the website under Members Documents / CAAV publications.
DEFRA has today launched a consultation putting forward proposals for new measures to control bovine TB in badgers in England. The proposals include the issue of licences to farmers/landowners to cull and/or vaccinate badgers at their own cost. Further information is available on the DEFRA website.
Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, has written to the Badger Trust to express concerns about their use of the National TB statistics. The Badger Trust had stated that the figures showed a "consistent downward trend" for the past two and half years in Wales and GB, whereas it seems to be the case that the historic trend is in fact still increasing. Further information about the CVO's correspondence with the Badger Trust can be found on the Welsh Assembly Government website....
Northern Ireland Farming Minister, Michelle Gildernew, has announced that the mapping details of some 742,000 field parcels used to claim the Single Payment Scheme in Northern Ireland are to be re-visited as part of a comprehensive re-mapping exercise in reaction to the application of £31 million disallowance by the EU for issues including their mapping system. This exercise will be similar to that carried out by the RPA for England in 2009/10. Further information is available on the DARDNI...
Following discussions with rural businesses and other stakeholders, the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has today published their 'Agenda for change' setting out proposals to release the economic potential of rural areas in England. Please see the CRC website for further information.
The RPA has announced that the SPS online service will not be available on Thursday 26th August between 11am and 7pm due to maintenance work being carried out.
The HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme opened on 20th August. Application forms can be found on the HS2 website.
The CAAV, in conjunction with RICS Wales, is holding a professional briefing event about Glastir on 8th September at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will address the entry level (All- Wales Element) applications process which will start this September, with a close date of 1st November 2010, and the eligibility issues that need to be considered including land occupation arrangements and the end of "dual use" in Wales. Places are limited and bookings...
It has been agreed that the National Written Tutorial can count as one of the four tutorials which candidates for the 2010 CAAV examinations must have attended. Please ensure that application forms for the 2010 examinations are received by Coleford by 31st August - certificates for the National Written Tutorial can be submitted after the event.