The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has commented on the newly laid Agriculture (Wales) Bill, saying that the overarching piece of legislation is half way there in providing a stable footing for the future of agriculture in Wales.
The first draft of the Bill along with its supporting documentation was laid in front of the Senedd yesterday, 26 September, by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, ahead of a debate in the Senedd this afternoon.
The first ever Agriculture Bill for Wales has been laid, providing the opportunity to develop farming policies which could truly benefit those living and working in Wales. The Bill will set out the overarching legislation and drive the biggest change for Welsh agriculture since the UK joined the European Union.
Since the Brexit referendum, the FUW has stood its ground and argued for the principles of Sustainable Land Management to be broadened to include the economic sustainability of Wales’ family farms, the sustainable production of safe traceable food, Welsh culture and language which take full account of the Well-being of Future Generations Act goals and other Welsh objectives.
The FUW is therefore pleased to see that the Bill sets out four Sustainable Land Management objectives which include the production of sustainable food and the sustainability of the Welsh language, each of which will be required to contribute to the well-being goals.
Tied to these will be the requirement for Welsh ministers to prepare and publish reports every five years setting out the progress made since the objectives came into force, and consider such objectives when introducing new support mechanisms or regulations.
However, the Bill is only half way there as many of the concerns the FUW raised in its response to the Welsh Government’s Agriculture White Paper in March last year still firmly stand.
While the list of purposes for which support can be provided is not exhaustive and can be amended, removed and added to, it is concerning that neither the economic well-being of farming businesses nor the Welsh language are explicitly included.
It is vital that proper remuneration and living conditions for farmers and workers in agriculture and an adequate return on capital investment in the industry are included as defined objectives of the Bill. Without such underlying principles, the other objectives of the Bill will be undermined or completely negated.
There are also provisions to enhance public access to the countryside, a lack of regard for new and young entrants, and the omission of rules relating to National Minimum Standards and Civil Sanctions which are believed to be implemented at a later date.
The Bill will now progress through Stage one of the parliamentary process until early 2023 which will include scrutiny by the Senedd Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, followed by the Amendment Stage in Spring before being voted on in the Plenary later next year.
The FUW must now evaluate the 500 pages of legislation, Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment to find the devil in the detail and continue to work with Members of the Senedd and relevant committees to ensure the Bill delivers for a thriving sustainable farming sector in Wales.