Tag Archives: badgers

Badgers in the mainframe? Defra’s monumental TB data errors

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Miles King

Back in January I wrote about Defra’s revelation that the vet agency AHVLA’s new computer had been spewing out fictitious reports overstating the number of Herd’s which had suffered a bovine TB breakdown. In retrospect it’s amazing that Owen Paterson … Continue reading →

Posted in badgers, bovine TB, Defra | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Farewell Owen Paterson: your work here is done

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Miles King

And so the rumours have finally been confirmed, Owen Paterson has been asked to stow away his wellies for the last time and return to the back benches. It may seem incredible that Paterson only became Secretary of State against … Continue reading →

Posted in corporate lobbying, deregulation, GMOs, Matt Ridley, Neonicotinoids, NFU, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Farmers flout TB rules and campaign against loopholes which let TB spread

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Miles King

You really would think that Britain’s farmers would all be on-side supporting whatever actions are needed to reduce the scourge of Bovine TB, wouldn’t you? ‘Fraid not. Last week I explored Defra’s latest proposals to reduce the spread of bTB … Continue reading →

Posted in badgers, bovine TB, farming | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Defra slams stable door shut long after cattle bTB infections have bolted.

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Miles King

Your favourite politician has been at it again explaining why it is so important to sacrifice, I mean, cull scientifically, badgers. He, or at least one of his minions, has written a piece on Conservative Home, of all places, seeking … Continue reading →

Posted in badgers, NFU, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Lenten Story: The Gamekeeper’s Gibbet, Biodiversity Onsetting and Confirmation Bias

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Miles King

spot the badger The Gamekeeper’s Gibbet Not so long ago, a walk in the country would entail this scene – a gamekeeper’s gibbet. Vermin would be presented by the estate gamekeeper, neatly strung on fences or hung from trees, as … Continue reading →

Posted in agricultural pests, animism, badgers, biodiversity offsetting, blood sports, Defra, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Defra publish correct Bovine TB herd breakdown data – previous figures were inflated by one third

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Miles King

The Badger Cull has been found to be ineffective and inhumane according to Defra’s own expert panel looking at the Pilot areas in Somerset and Gloucestershire. The BBC report Prof Rosie Woodroffe, a scientist at the Zoological Society of London, … Continue reading →

Posted in badgers, Defra | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Paterson latest: Badgers stole my bovine TB data

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Miles King

Owen “goalposts” Paterson. (photo by US Department of State [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons) Here’s an interesting take on the latest Badger Killing machinations from The Ecologist (is it owned by Zac Goldsmith?). They suggest Owen “Goalposts” Paterson may be … Continue reading →

Posted in badgers, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Welcome to your new job Mr Sells

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Miles King

Andrew Sells starts as Chairman of Natural England on Monday (20th). If we could wave our magic wands and appear in his office that morning, what would we suggest to him as his top priorities? Some might suggest the Badger … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Sells, badgers, biodiversity offsetting, Common Agricultural Policy, flooding, Matt Ridley, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment