It will be another 12 months at least before farmers can cull badgers as part of efforts to combat the spread of bovine TB.

farming minister Jim Paice indicated the wait at the Royal Cornwall Show when he spoke to farmers on the opening day.

Mr Paice said he could not see action for another year although an announcement was due later in the summer. It would be 2012 before it could be implemented, said the minister.

He expected legal challenges to be made by organisations within the environmentalists lobby, including the Badger Trust, delaying any possible action.

Time would have to be allowed for at least one judicial review, which was inevitable and then Natural England would need time to process the licence to cull applications.

National Farmers’ Union deputy president Maurig Raymond said he was deeply frustrated by the news.

“We have lost another year in trying to combat this disease. Our top priority now is to make sure we get the right announcement from the Government in favour of the farming industry and for all those livestock farmers whose herds are under movement restriction because of bovine TB.”

Mr Paice told a packed audience at the Country Land and Business Association stand that the Government’s consultation period on a cull had produced a raft of concerns.

“We are having to make absolutely sure we get it right – and that’s why it has taken such a long time because we only have this one opportunity.

“If a cull does go ahead, once it has started we have to ensure that farmers don’t just give up on it after one year, because the process needs to run for four years.

“We are getting close to a resolution and we shall make an announcement about a cull before Parliament rises for the summer recess at the end of the third week in July.”

Mr Paice covered a number of areas in his speech not least the new legislation on food labelling, to ensure that only British-raised and grown food was labelled as coming from the UK, and not food that was only processed here.

He joined in the arguement involving the siting of supermarkets. The power of the supermarkets would be curtailed to ensure fairness with farmers’ suppliers through the appointment of a retail adjudicator.

Jeremy Best, chairman of the National Farmers’ Union in Cornwall, fears an adjudicator would be “toothless” and would not have sufficient enforcement measures available to him, under proposals outlined in a draft Bill.

Mr Best, a fruit farmer, said the “supermarkets’ ombudsman” would not have the powers to deter supermarkets from bullying suppliers.

“Supermarkets have taken over most of the grocery trade, and command too much power. This is why we need an adjudicator with teeth to help restore the balance for suppliers, not just someone who is politically correct and paying lip service to it.”

Mr Best said too many supermarkets had moved into Cornwall to cash in on summer visitors squeezing town-centre traders.