The Farmers’ Union of Wales has launched a Brexit Briefing Paper at the Winter Fair, which provides a summary of the key issues facing our industry post Brexit, and some of the possible outcomes and solutions for agriculture and all those who rely on it - as well as the Union’s latest positions on key policy areas.
As is the case for most government departments and industries, the issue of Brexit has come to dominate most of the areas of work dealt with by the Union.
Speaking at the launch, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Since June 23, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has held scores of meetings with members across Wales to discuss the implications of the referendum outcome and the way forward for Wales.
“Five months on, there remain far more questions than answers in terms of the process of leaving the EU and the implications for Welsh and UK agriculture. Our members are clear in their view that policies must be developed cautiously in order to reflect and influence emerging political decisions.
“Notwithstanding this, the FUW has already agreed on a number of key principles aimed at protecting Wales’ interests, while numerous detailed proposals have been put forward by members.
“Meanwhile, the Union has worked alongside others to gather and analyse data on the current role played by agriculture in Wales and the possible implications of different outcomes for our industry and wider society.
“I am delighted to launch the FUW’s Brexit Briefing Paper here today, which provides a summary of the key issues facing our industry post Brexit, and some of the possible outcomes and solutions for agriculture and all those who rely on it.”
Work carried out by the FUW in relation to Brexit negotiations and gaining support for agriculture in Wales is further outlined in the briefing paper.
Mr Roberts added saying that: “In addition to meetings with members across Wales, the FUW has met regularly with Ministers, MPs, AMs, civil servants and key stakeholders, emphasising that support should be maintained for sectors at levels which do not compromise either family farms or rural economies, that agriculture and domestic food production must be given priority during all trade negotiations with other countries and trading blocks, that bureaucracy and restrictions must not adversely impact or hamper Welsh and UK agriculture and that the procurement of Welsh and British produce should be the default position for all UK public sector bodies.
“The Union has emphasised that robust steps must be taken to ensure supermarkets and other private sector bodies support domestic producers and do not act in a way which undermines UK food production or the viability of our agricultural sectors and that in line with public opinion, the family farm must be recognised as the powerhouse of our rural economies and the most appropriate source of UK agricultural produce.”
[gview file="http://fuw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Brexit-Briefing-FUW-November-2016.pdf"]