Badgers, culls and facts

Yes, you can cull.

The government's announcement that farmers could kill the badgers that they blame for TB in their cattle seemed straightforward.

The NFU certainly thought so, with warm words of approval.

But is it really that good for farmers?

Here are some facts to bear in mind.

First, they'll have to pay for it.

They'll only be able to cull in areas of at least 150 square kilometres. In the West of England that would likely contain more than 100 farms.

So a farmer wanting to institute a cull might have to persuade 99 others to agree to it.

And they won't all have cattle; it's reckoned that kind of area would on average contain 22 herds.

Then there's the cost: the government estimates the necessary cull, lasting several years and done under licence, would cost £1.2m. Others think it'd be higher: a report by academics at Imperial College suggests it could top £2m.

So persuade 100 farmers to accept a cull, and the 22 with cattle to pay at least £50,000 each, and off you go.

Oh, and watch out for the legal challenges: judges in Wales halted a cull in Pembrokeshire after casting doubt on the scientific grounds for it.

There are plenty of scientists on this side of the border keen to see a cull meet the same fate.