Written question asked by Owen Paterson (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 March 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 March 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) biosecurity and (b) other mechanisms are available to farmers to prevent badger damage to forage crops.

Answer: Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) biosecurity and (b) other mechanisms are available to farmers to prevent badger damage to forage crops. [157856] Mr. Bradshaw: Electric fences provide the best defence against short-term seasonal damage to crops. Advice on using electric fences to protect crops is given in the Defra leaflet `Badger problems: use of electric fencing to prevent agricultural damage' (TAN 15). This can be obtained from the Defra website (at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/ leaflets.htm) or by contacting the National Wildlife Management Team (Tel: 0845 6014523, local rate). Additional detailed, technical information is available in the `Electric Fence Reference Manual' (Research and Development Surveillance Report 607), which is also available to download from the Defra website.

Secondary information