Farmers’ Union of Wales calls for designated emergency fund in crucial Westminster meetings
A delegation from the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) travelled to Westminster earlier this week to hold vital talks with UK Government ministers, placing the resilience of Welsh agriculture, biosecurity, and emergency support at the top of the political agenda.
Union officials met with Anna McMorrin MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Wales Office, before holding joint discussions at the Home Office with DEFRA Ministers Stephen Morgan MP and Baroness Hayman of Ullock.
The FUW made representations on the ongoing negotiations for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU. The Union made clear how it recognises the potential benefits an SPS agreement could deliver for Welsh farmers in terms of increased exports and improved market access. However, the most relevant concerns to Welsh farming businesses, such as those surrounding potential changes to livestock transport requirements, were also discussed at length.
The FUW also took the opportunity to call for UK-wide co-ordination when it comes to tackling immediate challenges such as wildfires, fodder availability and disease outbreaks. Ahead of the impending UK budget announcement, Union representatives called for a dedicated UK emergency fund designed to support farming businesses with short-term crises and financial challenges.
Reflecting on the discussions, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “These meetings provided an important opportunity to put the concerns of Welsh farmers directly to UK Government ministers. Welsh farmers operate within a complex policy environment and decisions taken in Westminster on reserved matters such as trade, taxation and biosecurity have a direct impact on farming businesses in Wales.
“We are incredibly proud of the world-class standards upheld by Welsh farmers. As the government navigates shifting trade barriers and immediate disease threats, the voice of Welsh agriculture must not be side-lined. We need strong commitments and proactive strategies to keep our family farms secure. It was therefore reassuring to hear that DEFRA and the UK Government are seeking to ensure that our welfare standards are not undercut by ongoing and future trade negotiations.
“It was also positive to note that our call for a dedicated emergency fund to support farmers with immediate challenges will be explored. Any successful strategies to tackle issues such as wildfires, fodder shortages and disease control will require immediate and long-term investment, targeted at impacted farm businesses and bodies that play a key role in prevention and surveillance across the UK.
“We look forward to continuing this dialogue and working constructively to ensure that the interests of Welsh farming and our rural communities are consistently understood at a UK Government level.”
