Agricultural Policy News

Agricultural Policy

BeefQ videos on beef eating quality available to view

Agricultural Policy

During the summer, the BeefQ project intended to work with Farming Connect and their demonstration farms to demonstrate how farmers can contribute to improving the eating quality of beef that they produce.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, they have instead produced a series of videos which help to describe how aspects of farm management can have an impact on beef eating quality.

How genetics influence beef eating quality and how producers can have a positive impact can be viewed on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eor2CtEf_m0

How animal health influences beef eating quality and how producers can have a positive impact can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jh-NyCCsrY

How animal handling influences beef eating quality and how producers can have a positive impact can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1shM7AveH2A

Participate in this survey on antimicrobial resistance

Agricultural Policy

The FUW has been contacted by researchers from the James Hutton Institute to invite UK livestock farmers and farm employees to complete an anonymous survey on antimicrobial resistance.

To gather a better understanding of farmers’ experiences and views, the survey asks to share experiences and reflections and contribute to an international project around rethinking antimicrobial decision systems in animal production management.

For each survey completed, a donation will go towards farming-based charities.

The survey will take around 30 minutes to complete and can be found here: http://hutton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74fSqKdIzWvvREa

Expression of Interest Window Dates July 2021

Agricultural Policy

Scheme	Summary	Window Close
Farming Connect What’s On	As a result of the pandemic, Farming Connect has taken the decision to postpone all open events and one-to-many events until further notice. They are conducting a number of activities digitally or over the phone where possible. More information can be found here: https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/whats-on
Farming Connect ICT Programme	Farming Connect is now offering ICT training courses for beginners and intermediate learners. One-to-one sessions and online workshops are also available on integrating ICT technology into your farm business To book, please contact Lantra on 01982 552646 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Further information can be found here.
Nuffield Farming Scholarships	Applications for the 2021 Nuffield Farming Scholarships are open. Successful applicants tend to be from those working in farming, food or horticulture and are provided a substantial bursary to fund travel to study their chosen topic. Further information and details on how to apply can be found here: https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/	31 July 2021
Rural Business Investment Scheme Non Agricultural - Window 2	This window of the RBIS has been allocated a budget of £2 million and covers capital investments costs and supports project in Wales that contribute to at least one of the below: the diversification of the rural economy, the development of the supply chain for natural products, increasing the productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of rural businesses. The scheme is open to existing and start up Non-agricultural micro and small enterprises including farmers or members of the farm household diversifying into non-agricultural activities. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that a viable market has been identified for their product(s) and that the project would not proceed without the grant. The maximum grant rate for any individual investment project is 40% of the total costs. The maximum grant threshold per undertaking for any individual investment project is £50,000, and the minimum is £5,000 Further information and how to apply can be found here: https://gov.wales/rural-business-investment-scheme-non-agriculture	20 August 2021

UK - Australia trade deal agreed in principle sparks major alarm

Agricultural Policy

The UK and Australia signed a trade agreement in principle on 15th June just days after the G7 Summit in Cornwall where global leaders met to discuss the recovery from the pandemic.

This was despite the FUW raising grave concerns during numerous meetings with Conservative MPs including differences in scales of economy and production, animal welfare standards, and the likelihood of surges in food imports from Australia given the volatility of commodity markets.

If the deal is signed as it currently stands, Australia will gain immediate access on the UK market to a duty-free quota of 35,000 tonnes for beef, rising in equal instalments to 110,000 tonnes in year ten. There will also be immediate access to a duty-free quota of 25,000 tonnes for lamb, rising in equal instalments to 75,000 tonnes in year ten.

In terms of dairy products, tariffs will be eliminated over the first five years. There will be immediate access to a duty-free quota of 24,000 tonnes for cheese, rising in equal instalments to 48,000 tonnes in year five. For butter, it will be 5,500 tonnes rising to 11,500 tonnes and non-cheese dairy will be 20,000 tonnes from day one.

Review of Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations welcome

Agricultural Policy

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed the decision of the Senedd to review the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations, which are currently being phased in and are set to impose strict and costly regulations across every farm in Wales.

The joint opposition party motion calling for a Senedd committee to hold an "urgent" review of the new regulations was passed by 58 votes to nil on 9th June.

It is pleasing to see that a robust discussion in the Senedd has led to all Welsh Senedd members backing a review into the regulations as they currently stand.

The FUW and other industry bodies have repeatedly expressed frustration and anger at the way these regulations were rushed through the Senedd without scrutiny and warned of the dangers that will come with what is currently being phased in.