LIVING in Ryedale, we expect everyone else to understand the basics - that milk doesn't come from bottles, eggs do pop out of hen's bottoms and nature does require a helping hand to keep a balance in the countryside.

The great badger debate has laid bare the chasm that still exists between our thinking and those of our urban cousins who mostly now seem to control the RSPCA.

That august animal welfare body last week decided to oppose badger culling as a possible solution to the spread of TB which is now reaching epidemic proportions.

I listened to a documentary on Radio 4 and here are a few sobering facts:

There were 2,000 TB outbreaks in 2005 resulting in nearly 30,000 cattle being slaughtered. This represents a 28 per cent increase on the previous year.

Last year compensation cost £90 million but this month Defra has introduced a new table of valuations which will "savagely undervalue" many animals, and reduce payments to farmers for their lost livestock.

There has been an explosion in the badger population in recent years and comparatively there are 10 times more badgers in the UK than there are in Ireland.

Badgers and hedgehogs have the same basic diet so there are now large areas around the country that have very few hedgehogs left.

The level of TB infection in badger hotspots is 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the population and they spread the infection by passing the bacilli in urine or sputum which remains on the grassland for the cattle to graze.

Reactive culling on 100 sq km around TB outbreaks has been shown scientifically to be anti-productive.

The reason seems to be that the culling only removes around a half to two thirds of the badger population and this merely causes a severe disruption in the movement of badgers which succeeds in spreading rather than controlling the disease.

Trials in Ireland have been more widespread and have dropped the TB instance by 50 per cent.

New scientific evidence which I reported last week maintains that a proactive cull on a much larger area of 300 sq km around the hotspot will be effective in controlling the disease.

The RSPCA and those protecting the Brock population are proposing that there should be better pre and post movement testing of cattle together with strict quarantine regulations; and all this to be at the expense of the farmer.

I have a great affection for the old badger but having listened to all the arguments I cannot believe that we are prepared to risk our cattle industry for their sake.

All the proposed measures merely nibble away at the edges of the problem and do not tackle its root cause. I am not on my own and refer you to the 300 vets who have signed a petition, the whole of the south-west farming fraternity and the Independent Scientific Group.

Please can we ask the RSPCA if they really do prefer to condemn thousands of cattle to death or whether we should make a proper stab at redressing the badger population explosion.

If you have a view you can write to the Government during the consultation period at bTB.consultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

The RPA are adamant that definitive establishment of SPS entitlements will occur on Valentine's Day, and that payments will commence from the end of February for fully validated claims.

As I shall be writing this article on D-Day next week I would be grateful if anyone receiving their RPA letter through the post would give me a ring on 07801 685661. I will then be able to report as to how it is going.

Apart from the financial relief it will bring to many, the establishment of definitive entitlements will enable those who have been waiting in the wings to transfer entitlements following sales that have been agreed over the past 12 months.

You can steel a march as there is a pre-registration system for requesting the RLE 1 forms which are the official transfer documents.

You can request these forms from the RPA helpline, 0845 6037777. You will need your SBI number, primary business address and the number of farmers to whom you are transferring.

When King John signed the original Magna Carta on Runnymede in 1215 he was not amused at having to give away rights to the British people; but he would have been absolutely bemused when 800 years later the new Animal Welfare Bill clears Parliament in the next few months.

We do seem to have gone pet potty and much of it stems from having no one in Government that has any concept on what living and working with animals means.

Defra says the Bill is the most significant Animal Welfare legislation for nearly a century and pets are to be given five new "freedoms" which include appropriate diet, suitable living conditions, companionship, monitoring for abnormal behaviour, protection from pain and suffering.

It makes you wonder sometimes if Margaret Beckett & Co have not gone barking mad (if you'll pardon the pun!) as they have now introduced new codes of conduct for different types of pets.

There is an 18-page Cat Code which includes keeping pussy indoors to protect it from other wildlife and ensuring that your cat receives "mental stimulation".

Is our Government running out of humans to mollycoddle and now having to turn to animals?

Mark Wilson, of Hovingham, has sent me an update on his Entry Level Scheme application which was made on August 1, 2005.

He should have been due his first payment on February 1 so rang up Defra to see what was happening. He was informed that the computers were down so that they could be upgraded; and the anonymous Defra operative went on to say "hopefully you might get paid next week!"

Why on earth Defra has to delay computer upgrades until they are due to make payments only they will be able to explain. If we behaved like that in business we would be out of it.

This month's Pig World roundly condemns Peter Mandelson for sacrificing agriculture on the world trade altar.

Mandelson's plan to slash tariffs on sensitive farm products such as beef and pork in return for a deal on industrial goods and services is grossly irresponsible and will cost thousands of farming jobs in this country.

Like me perhaps you are not aware of what he has actually proposes to do:

A cut in the average agricultural tariff of 46 per cent.

The total elimination of all agricultural export support by an agreed date.

A reduction in the number of sensitive products such as beef, pork and sugar.

A 60 per cent reduction in the EU's highest tariffs.

The perception is that Mr Mandelson has promoted fair trade but the reality is different.

Over the past 30 years, Europe's farmers have made huge environmental and animal welfare advances which are not adhered to by the rest of the world.

We are in danger of standing helplessly by whilst cheap imports come in from countries where such issues are less important.

Forward 111 cattle including 33 bulls and six cows 1,494 sheep including 286 ewes. Light steers to 110p Charity Farms Thornton-le-Dale heavy steers to 116p, C F Beal, Yedingham, ave 105.6p; light heifers to 130p, G I Marwood, Harome, ave 113.4p; heavy heifers to 146p, G I Marwood, Harome, ave 109.5p; medium bulls to 114p, P M Allen, Great Barugh, ave 108.5p; heavy bulls to 125p, B I Mosey, Gilling East, ave 112.2p; black and white bulls to 91p, M Ellerby, Pickering, ave 83.5p; OTM cows to 85p, M & J Hayhurst, Kirkby Misperton, ave 62.7p; OTM bulls to 80p Charity Farms, Thornton-le-Dale, ave 73.7p; standard hoggs to 105.7p, E Woodmancey, Yatts, ave 95.8p; medium hoggs to 116.2p, Wilson and Kellett, Ryton, ave 101.2p; heavy hoggs to 104.1p D Burkill, Harpham, ave 96.5p; overweight hoggs to 94.5p, S R Grayson, Pickering, ave 91.6p; ewes to £48.50 E E Wilkinson and Son, Langtoft, ave £30.80.

Updated: 15:22 Wednesday, February 08, 2006