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(L-R) FUW Pembrokeshire County County Chairman David Nicholas , Green Party candidate Val Bradley, Labour candidate Dan Lodge, FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas, Plaid Cymru candidate John Osmond, Conservative candidate Paul Davies and Liberal Democrats candidate Bob Kilminster.[/caption]
The issue of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs), bovine Tuberculosis and food security were hotly debated when Pembrokeshire farmers met their Welsh Assembly election candidates.
The meeting, which was held on Tuesday April 19, at the Mariners Hotel, Haverfordwest, welcomed Paul Davies (Conservative), Val Bradley (Green Party), Dan Lodge (Labour), Bob Kilmister (Liberal Democrat) and John Osmond (Plaid Cymru).
Each of the candidates were given 10 minutes to outline their party’s position with regards to the rural economy and agriculture’s role within it.
There was a split opinion on the panel when it came to the hot topic of bovine TB and the FUW’s call for a badger cull.
The Green Party candidate, Val Bradley, recognised the problem but suggested that a pharmaceutical approach would be more appropriate than a culling programme.
Labour Party candidate Dan Lodge, said the party would continue to act based on the evidence it receives and the Liberal Democrat candidate Bob Kilminster added that even though the topic of bTB was not covered in the party's election manifesto, he personally would prefer the option of allowing farmers to cull badgers on their own land versus a blanket cull.
Paul Davies, currently the AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire for the Conservative party, made his views clear that he would back the call for a badger cull. The sentiment was echoed by Plaid Cymru candidate John Osmond.
FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas, who chaired the meeting, reminded the election candidates of the Union’s call for the next Welsh Assembly Government.
“We strongly call on the next Welsh Assembly Government to properly balance the economic needs of farm businesses against the need to minimise disease transmission, and that the practicalities of farming in the real world are taken into full account when considering appeals against penalties and sanctions.
“The FUW further urges them to implement a badger culling policy at the earliest opportunity, in line with official ministerial advice previously received by the current Welsh Government, in order to replicate the positive outcomes seen in countries throughout the world.”
The discussion amongst Union members and other guests further turned to the topic of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
The FUW has been intensely involved in the review of NVZ designations in Wales and remains opposed to any further increases in designation.
FUW Pembrokeshire County County Chairman David Nicholas said: “Welsh Government are expected to increase the areas given over to NVZs and this includes a sizeable area in Pembrokeshire.
“The FUW reviewed the methodologies and conclusions with intense scrutiny and was able to present a case against designation in some cases. We will be meeting with the relevant bodies after the election in order to discuss the way forward.”
Given the lengthy delay in releasing both the NVZ designation consultation, and the consultation relating to the Action Programme measures, it will be important to ensure that there remains sufficient time for the appeals process that will follow the confirmed designations.
Talking about food security and the need for stricter regulation on supermarkets and local procurement, the FUW reminded the Pembrokeshire election candidates that the next Welsh Government needs to meet regularly with retailers and processors in order to encourage transparency and fairness within the food chain, and equitable practices and farmgate prices which support Wales’ farmers and economy.
All the party candidates were in agreement that more needed to be done to support Welsh food producers and that the Groceries Code Adjudicator needed more power to enforce more stringent controls on supermarkets.
Following the meeting, Brian Thomas said: “The continuing glut of milk within the EU has functioned to further weaken the position of dairy producers in the supply chain and cemented their position as price-takers.
“The steep decline in the number of Welsh dairy farmers will continue as long as supply chain profits aren’t shared equally.
“It remains imperative that the prices paid to producers not only cover the cost of production, but also provide room for investment in order to allow the sector to innovate and remain competitive.
“The FUW has repeatedly called for an expansion of the Groceries Adjudicator’s power to cover all dairy producers and not just the small minority on retailer aligned contracts.
“At present, retailer aligned contracts only account for about four percent of the milk produced in Wales and, as such, the majority of dairy producers are not covered by the remit of the Adjudicator.”
Delegates further discussed the importance of funding the YFC movement, the need to make it easier for young people to join the industry and debated the consultation on reducing the number of councils in Wales from 22 to eight or nine.
Concluding the evening, Brian Thomas reminded those present that 5500 jobs in Pembrokeshire were reliant on agriculture and that the next Welsh Government has to recognise the importance of the industry to the county.