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(l-r) FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts, Llyr Gruffydd AM and FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes[/caption]
A delegation of Farmers’ Union of Wales officials met with North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd at Denbigh and Flint Show using the opportunity to highlight strategic challenges the UK could face in trade negotiations post-Brexit.
FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet with Llyr Gruffydd here at our county show to discuss many issues of concern to the farming community. A main priority for us was to highlight some of the strategic challenges we could face in future trade negotiations, such as our current bovine TB status. As an Union we are deeply concerned that the existing level of TB is in excess of anything that will be acceptable to European trade negotiators. Consequently, if we do not change our policy in relation to the management of Bovine TB in wildlife, our exports to the European Union, in a post-Brexit world, are under considerable threat.”
Mr Hughes further said that despite the announcement made by the Chancellor Philip Hammond that funding for agricultural support is secured until 2020, which was welcomed, there is a concern that funding after that will focus mainly on environment schemes that don’t support actual food production. In addition, he raised the point that there are many questions as to how current funding support will affect those with agreements under Wales’ rural development programme, making it clear that farmers across Wales need clarity - from Welsh and UK governments - so they can continue to run their businesses and plan for the future.
Union officials also raised the point that planning regulations in rural areas are too tight, which in effect makes it difficult for the next generation farmers to enter the industry and remain in their local communities.
“Our family farms lie at the centre of our rural economy, culture and landscape and it is imperative that Governments don’t undervalue the important role these family farms play. Therefore it is critical that agriculture and domestic food production is given priority during all trade negotiations with other countries and trading blocks and that bureaucracy and restrictions do not adversely impact or hamper Welsh and UK agriculture,” added Mr Hughes.