Agricultural Policy News

Agricultural Policy

Surveys and questionnaires June 2021

Agricultural Policy

Survey on methane-inhibiting feedstuffs for ruminants

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is conducting research on behalf of Defra in regard to methane-inhibiting feedstuffs for ruminants.

SRUC are doing research interviews to hear what farmers think about using such feedstuffs in practice. These feedstuffs are being considered as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock sector and to help achieve the UK net-zero targets by 2050.

Participation is open to all farmers of ruminants including sheep, beef, dairy and goats. To register your interest to participate in an interview and to this research, please visit: http://bit.ly/methanefeedstuffs

Complete this survey on the use of soil for sustainable agriculture

Ms Mary Eliza, a PhD student at the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences of Sheffield University is conducting a survey as part of her project entitled ‘Utilising the soil microbiome for sustainable agriculture in the UK.’

The purpose of the study is to develop an understanding of the perception and experiences about the soil microbiome, rhizobial inoculants and related practices of people involved in growing food in the UK.

Those involved in farming and related activities are asked to complete the short survey here.

One lucky participant will also win a £150 voucher after the survey closes in October.

Further information about the project can be found here.

Contribute to research on the acute decline in oak trees

Forest managers and others are invited to share their knowledge and expertise to contribute to research aiming to discover how declining health is affecting trees across the UK and to find possible new treatments.

The survey, being led by the Sylva Foundation and Bangor University as part of the Future Oak research project, is investigating Acute Oak Decline (AOD) in the UK due to increased pressure from pests, pathogens and changes to the landscape and climate.

Understanding the perspectives of forest managers and farmers will be critical to future solutions to such tree health problems.

The survey can be accessed here and closes on 11th July 2021.

Expression of Interest Window Dates June 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 Training Window	The next funding application window for training is now open and will close on Friday 25 June 2021. Those registering for the first time during the above skills window in order to apply for a funded training course or need to update their account details, please contact Farming Connect before 17:00 Monday 21 June 2021. More information can be found here.	25 June 2021
Farm Business Grant - Yard Coverings	The second round of the Farm Business Grant - Yard Coverings scheme opened on 18th May and will close on 25th June 2021. The Farm Business Grant Yard Coverings scheme seeks to support farmers to improve their current infrastructure for yard coverings - covering feeding areas, slurry pits, silage stores etc - where rainwater can be separated. Local FUW County Executive Officers will be able to explain the scheme requirements to members. FUW staff will not be able to complete the Expression of Interest on behalf of members due to the technical requirements. Further information and guidance is available on the Welsh Government website.	25 June 2021
Glastir Woodland Restoration	The 9th Expression of Interest window is now open for the Glastir Woodland Restoration scheme. GWR provides capital works for restocking, fencing and associated operations on sites containing larch and up to 50% non-larch species. Applicants will have to submit their supporting felling licence or felling licence application when expressing an interest. Welsh Government will not consider any documents that were submitted in a previous GWR window. See here for further information and to express an interest.	25 June 2021
Glastir Small Grants Landscape and Pollinators	The current window of the Glastir Small Grants Landscape and Pollinators scheme opened on 18th May and will close on 25th June 2021. The is a programme of capital works available to farming businesses across Wales to carry out projects that will help to improve and maintain traditional landscape features, and provide habitat linkage for pollinating insects. Further information can be found on the Welsh Government website.	25 June 2021
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

FUW expressed major concerns over UK - Australia free trade deal talks

Agricultural Policy

The repercussions of a breach or renegotiation of a trade deal are extreme due to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and international law, meaning that, once signed, a trade deal effectively binds the current and future UK Governments to its terms.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has therefore expressed major concerns in response to recent reports saying that the terms offered by the UK Government Department of International Trade for a UK - Australia trade deal could significantly increase the volume of food produced in Australia that can be imported into the UK tariff-free.

The EU’s previous agreement with Australia allowed 7,150 tonnes of beef and 19,186 tonnes of lamb to be imported into EU countries, but following Brexit the quota was split, allowing Australia to import 3,761 of beef and 13,335 tonnes of lamb into the UK.
The UK Government is attempting to defend the phasing out of this quota on the grounds that current import volumes from Australia are below this low quota and are unlikely to rise.

Yet this begs the question why Australia is fighting hard for such access during negotiations if they do not think they will increase exports to the UK. In fact, numerous Australian sources have confirmed that the UK is a major target for expanding their exports, with their biggest beef exporter predicting a ten-fold increase in exports to the UK.

It is clear that the Welsh and British public is opposed to opening the flood-gates to food produced to lower standards in other countries, and the FUW fully supports those in Defra who are fighting such proposals.

FUW will continue to lobby for bespoke Welsh policies now and in the future

Agricultural Policy

Regarded as having been one of the most crucial elections for the future of the agricultural sector in Wales, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) left no stone unturned in its efforts to stress the importance of various policy areas to future decision makers ahead of the Welsh Senedd 2021 Elections.

FUW President Glyn Roberts and Deputy President Ian Rickman met with the agricultural leads of the key political parties during the run-up to the elections to highlight the main industry concerns and the Union’s Key Manifesto Asks.

These meetings provided the opportunity to emphasise the importance of the next Government to committing to Stability, Family Farms, Supporting Rural Communities and Welsh Jobs, Sustainable Agriculture and Rewarding Environmental Outcomes while designing the Welsh Agricultural Act, the same key areas the FUW and NFU Cymru jointly outlined in the post-Brexit Welsh Way Forward document.

In addition, the Agriculture Bill White Paper proposals were discussed at length due to their far reaching consequences to the Welsh agricultural industry and its long term viability. Furthermore, the NVZ regulations, tree planting pledges, the parties commitments to ring fencing the agricultural budget, Bovine TB, the disappointing lack of commitment to place a cap on payment thresholds and the potential complexity of a public goods scheme were discussed.

Menter a Busnes secured funding for Wales Farm Safety Partnership

Agricultural Policy

Menter a Busnes has secured funding to work alongside the Wales Farm Safety Partnership (WFSP) to raise awareness of farm safety and reduce the number of incidents on Welsh farms.

Since 2021, the WFSP has involved a collaboration of agricultural Stakeholders, including the Farmer’s Union of Wales (FUW), working together to raise awareness of farm safety and promote good practice to achieve reductions in the number of death and serious injury incidences on farms.

Of the major industrial sectors, agriculture has the highest rate of fatal worker injury per 100,000 workers. According to figures from the Health and Safety Executive report, there were 3 fatal injuries within agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2019/2020 across Wales, a total of 21 across Great Britain.

While it is positive to note that the number of fatal injuries is reducing, the award of £69,000 will allow Menter a Busnes and the WFSP to continue this downward trend.

A dedicated Health and Safety Officer will be appointed and further advice and guidance will be made available in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive.

The FUW welcomes the additional funding and initiatives and will continue to work with Menter a Busnes and the WFSP alongside Farm Safety Ambassadors Mr Alun Elidyr and Mr Glyn Davies to promote farm safety.