As the EU moves forward with reforming its agricultural policy and proposes diverting perhaps a fifth or a third of the farm income support budget to an environmental scheme, the Welsh Government continues to develop its own far more radical plans to move the whole budget away from income support to environmental priorities.

In responding to the Welsh Government’s latest Sustainable Farming consultation, the FUW supported a number of technical changes to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) - but opposed plans to move Rural Development principles and objectives away from supporting farming, rural economies, culture and employment.

The Sustainable Farming and our Land: Simplifying Agricultural Support consultation set out eleven technical proposals relating to the BPS, which is expected to remain in place for a number of years while a new ‘Sustainable Farming Scheme’ (SFS) is developed.

The National Beef Association (NBA) has faced a backlash of criticism from UK beef producers following its proposals to redefine ‘prime’ cattle and introduce a carbon tax in an attempt to reduce emissions from livestock.

The NBA announced plans to change the definition of ‘prime’ cattle - currently defined as any cattle slaughtered between 12 and 30 months of age - to be restricted to animals slaughtered between 10 and 28 months by 2023 and 27 months by 2025.

In addition, the proposals included the introduction of an environmental, or carbon tax to be applied to any cattle killed over the 28 month threshold at a suggested rate of £100 per head.

The Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) and British Veterinary Association (BVA) have warned that major challenges face the meat and livestock sectors after the end of the withdrawal period, due to issues relating to export certification.

In a recent report entitled Export Certification and the challenges facing the meat and livestock sector post-transition, the two veterinary bodies conclude that if the EU discontinues recognition of the UK’s health status, sub clauses may apply for meat exports requiring a 40 day standstill on the last holding before slaughter, a negative TB test within 3 months of slaughter, systematic trichinella testing of pigs and the segregation of EU and non-EU destined products.

i) Sale of majority stake in ASDA brings opportunity for British produce

The Lancashire based billionaire Issa brothers who own the petrol station ‘European Garages’ (EG) Group and private equity firm TDR Capital have secured the £6.8 billion majority stake in major UK retailer ASDA.

More than £1 billion will be invested into the supermarket supply chain over the next three years including a commitment towards 100% british dairy, potatoes and fresh beef, posing as a ‘significant’ increase in demand from UK beef producers.

ii) New Chairman elected to Dairy UK Board

Following his three-year term as Chair of the Dairy UK Board, Paul Vernon, Chief Executive of Glanbia Cheese has stepped down and Ash Amirahmadi has been elected as his successor.

Also elected at the Dairy UK AGM where Vice-Chairs Tom Atherton of Saputo Dairy UK and Shelagh Hancock of First Milk, and Mike Chatters of Lactalis Mclelland as Treasurer.

iii) EU sales of antibiotics for livestock down by one third

Results from the 2018 report from the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC) show that the sales of antibiotics for farm animals reduced by more than one third since 2011.

The UK has the fifth-lowest sales of antibiotics for livestock use in Europe at 71% below the EU average by mg/PCU, although UK-specific figures are yet to be released.

The 2020 targets set by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) in 2017 are now due to be reviewed and new targets will be set for the 2021-24 period.