Farmers’ Union of Wales Gwent county chairman Wayne Langford and Union officials recently discussed carbon trading, the future of agricultural policy and the on-going bovine TB crisis with Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Climate Change Delyth Jewell MS and Peredur Owen Griffiths MS.
The meeting was held at Mr Langford’s farm Penrhyn, Nantybwch,near Tredegar. The family farm is a sheep and beef holding and Wayne and his wife Tracey look after a flock of around 300 Welsh mountain sheep, and a herd of cattle on the common in summer and on the farm in winter. The farm is also part of the Glastir Commons contract.
Touring some of the fields with the MS’s, Wayne raised the issue of large companies buying up farmland across Wales. He said: “Welsh farms and large land parcels are being purchased by private individuals and companies. They are predominantly from outside Wales and intend to use the land for tree planting as part of carbon offsetting initiatives and investments aimed at capitalising on the growing market for carbon credits.