The FUW, NFU Cymru and Wales YFC have sent a joint letter to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths expressing concerns around the future direction of Welsh agricultural policy following the publication of the Agriculture (Wales) White Paper.
The letter calls for the Minister to reconsider what a future policy should deliver for Wales given that little has changed over the three consultation processes since 2018 and that there remains a lack of ambition for the future of farming in Wales.
It also states that “the direction of travel proposed does not appear to reflect the uniqueness of Welsh farming, built around family farms delivering for our economy, our landscape, language and culture. Instead, and most worryingly, it looks as though we are implementing a policy based on a very narrow definition of public goods, policy thinking very similar to what we have seen emanate from elsewhere, rather than a policy ‘Made in Wales’.”
The industry recognises and embraces the need for change in the belief that the main opportunity from Brexit was to develop an agricultural policy in Wales for Wales that focussed on its people, the land used for farming and the production of food.
Collectively, the industry is ambitious in believing that the Welsh agricultural sector can play a leading role in the major challenges facing society, not least climate change, whilst producing the highest quality food and drink to feed an ever-growing population.
Welsh farming is at a significant crossroads and the decisions taken by policymakers in the coming months will shape and impact the sector for generations to come.