FUW WELCOMES NEW GLASTIR REVIEW

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies's commitment to review how the Welsh Government has implemented the Glastir agri-environment scheme and listen to suggestions on improving the process in the future.

"The success and popularity of schemes such as Tir Gofal, Tir Cymen and, latterly, Tir Cynnal illustrate how farmers are quite happy to enter well-designed agri-environment schemes which balance environmental management and enhancement with agricultural production," said chairman of the union's land use committee Gavin Williams.

"Therefore, we welcome the Minister's review, so that we can develop a scheme which will meet both farmers' and the Minister's aspirations for sustainable farming into the future.

"Having participated in the previous Rees Roberts review of the scheme, we hope that the terms of reference for this review will be far broader, to enable a more fundamental approach to addressing the perceived barriers to uptake for the benefit of all," Mr Williams added.