FARMING Minister George Eustice this week announced that the badger cull will extend to seven new areas.

And he announced a further set of measures to tackle bovine TB in England as part of the government’s 25-year strategy to eradicate the disease.

Bovine TB costs taxpayers more than £100 million a year and England has the highest incidence in Europe – it caused more than 28,000 cattle to be slaughtered in 2015 alone.

New measures include:

o seven additional licences for badger control measures covering parts of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, with operations now underway

o a consultation on introducing further cattle measures including more sensitive tests for TB-affected herds in the High Risk Area, and increased surveillance testing for herds in the Edge Area

o a call for views on a more risk-based approach to TB testing of cattle herds in the High Risk Area

o new farm advice packs to help affected farmers to improve biosecurity measures on their farm

o an updated online tool mapping the location of bovine TB incidents over the last five years to allow farmers to make informed decisions when buying livestock

o a consultation on introducing further measures for controlling TB in non-bovine animals.

On Tuesday Mr Eustice said: "Our comprehensive strategy to eradicate bovine TB in England is delivering results, with more than half the country on track to be free of the disease by the end of this Parliament.

"The veterinary advice and the experience of other countries is clear—we will not be able to eradicate this disease unless we also tackle the reservoir of the disease in the badger population as well as cattle."

Nigel Gibbens, chief vet, said: "Proactive badger control is currently the best available option and the licensing of further areas is necessary to realise disease control benefits at regional rather than local levels."

Defra said that in 2015 badger control operations in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset were all successful in meeting their targets.

Meurig Raymond, NFU president, said: "Farmers facing a daily battle against bTB in those areas that have been granted licences for badger control operations this year will welcome the news that finally action is being taken to tackle the reservoir of disease in wildlife in these areas.

"Today’s announcement means that badger control will now be taking place in ten per cent of the area where cattle are at the highest risk of contracting bTB."

The NFU will consult its membership before responding to the consultations on introducing further cattle measures.

Ross Murray, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), said Bovine TB caused misery for dairy and livestock farmers.

He said: "It is vital that all those involved in the cull have the support of local people and law enforcement as they carry out this important task. We are grateful to all those taking part in this important effort and call on all those who value the English countryside to continue supporting our UK farmers and their herds."