Agricultural Policy News

Agricultural Policy

Dawns Glaw campaign and controlled burning messages

Agricultural Policy

Operation Dawns Glaw, a multi-agency task force of specialists from key agencies across Wales has reformed to reduce and where possible eliminate the impact of grass fires across Wales. The 2023 Dawns Glaw campaign was launched at the end of February.

Now in its seventh year, the role and remit of the task force continues to expand to include a focus on accidental fires, as well as increased engagement with farmers and landowners around land management plans. Read more about Dawns Glaw here

They are also promoting general controlled burning messages via social media channels, urging farmers and landowners to ‘call before they burn’ and take on board basic safety procedures.

More information is available here

Green business loan scheme launched

Agricultural Policy

The Welsh Government and the Development Bank of Wales have launched a £10 million Green Business Loan Scheme to assist businesses in Wales to cut their energy costs and become more energy-efficient. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌The scheme will run for 3 years.

Projects eligible for the scheme include investing in renewable energy technology, improving energy efficiency within buildings, upgrading systems to decrease energy usage, and water usage and waste reduction/improvement. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌

To make it easier for businesses to make the up-front investment required to become environmentally sustainable, the loan scheme will offer discounted interest rates and flexible repayment dates. Businesses that have ‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌been trading for two years or more can apply for a green business loan from £1,000 up to £1.5 million.

The Welsh Government’s Business Wales service is also providing support and advice to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint which can be either fully or part funded.

For more information visit: https://developmentbank.wales/business-need/green-business-loan-scheme

Expression of interest window dates March 2023

Agricultural Policy

Expression of interest window dates March 2023

Expression of interest window dates April 2023

Agricultural Policy

Expression of interest window dates March 2023

FUW statement: Agriculture (Wales) Bill

Agricultural Policy

The Agriculture Bill sets out fundamental changes to the principles that have underpinned our agricultural industry and rural communities since the 1940s. It will define the economy, environment, society and culture of rural Wales for decades to come, so it has to be right.

While the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) welcomed many aspects of the Bill following its introduction to the Senedd in September 2022, the FUW have raised a number of concerns and highlighted areas it believes need improving to make such an important piece of legislation fit for purpose.

In particular, given the interconnectivity and interdependence of land management, food production and rural livelihoods, the FUW were alarmed by the almost complete lack of reference or objectives relating to the economic viability of farming families and the livelihoods of rural residents within the definition of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and the principles of support set out in the Bill.