A combination of Net Zero targets, an increasing demand for carbon offsets and Welsh Government tree planting targets are driving a rapid acceleration in the sale and loss of Welsh farmland to investors seeking to capitalise on the future carbon market. 

To help address concerns regarding this trend, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is hosting a special breakfast webinar on Wednesday 19 January via Zoom, commencing at 8am. To help provide some solutions for Welsh farmers and policy makers, a panel of campaigners, farmers, foresters and soil scientists join the FUW for a thought provoking discussion.

The event, which is chaired by FUW Policy Officer Teleri Fielden, will hear from New Zealand based 50 Shades of Green campaigner Mike Butterick, who is also a Wairarapa beef and sheep farmer. Mr Butterick will be outlining how carbon market investors in NZ are driving an unsustainable loss of farmland to blanket plantations of unharvested exotic pines. He will also share their experience and lessons learnt to help ensure Wales’ rural communities do not follow in their footsteps. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that the 2022 direct payment budget will be maintained at 2020 and 2021 levels.

Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths announced on 23 December 2021 that a total direct payment ceiling of £238 million would be provided, in 2022, matching the budgets in 2020 and 2021.

FUW President Glyn Roberts welcomed the announcement, stating: “The minister’s decision recognises the importance of the direct support budget not only to the 16,000 or so farm businesses that rely on it, but also the many more tens of thousands of businesses that benefit from these payments.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW)  has raised its concerns regarding proposed changes to the registration and reporting of livestock movement. In its response to the Welsh Government's 'Changes to Livestock Identification, Registration and Movement Reporting Consultation', the Union highlighted numerous areas where the proposals would lead to increases in costs and bureaucracy for farmers.

"These come at a time when the UK is agreeing trade deals with countries such as Australia and New Zealand where such burdens do not come close to what is already required of Welsh farmers, let alone what is proposed," said FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman.

 Mr Rickman said the FUW fully recognises and supports the need to trace livestock effectively, but believes some elements of the proposals will add bureaucracy for farmers in an industry already overflowing with red tape.

Read more: FUW raises concerns about changes to livestock movement rules

 The FUW Ltd. Group is once again taking part in one of the biggest walking and running challenges yet, as it joins five nations who have teamed up to inspire rural communities to take to the countryside to help improve their mental health.

The challenge, #Run1000, is calling on people to sign up to be part of one of five teams – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand.

The competition will take place from January 1 to January 31, 2022 and will see each team run or walk 1,000 miles, with the nation that reaches the milestone first announced as the winner.