County branches of the Farmers’ Union of Wales across Wales are meeting with members of the Union to consult on future agricultural policies in a post-Brexit world.
The Union issued an internal consultation document to its membership in a bid to seek their opinion on the future for agriculture post-Brexit in addition to an online questionnaire.
Successful meetings have already taken place in Montgomeryshire, Pembrokeshire, Brecon & Radnor, Carmarthen, Meirionnydd, Denbigh and Flint and Glamorgan. Further meetings are being held for members in Gwent on Monday 12 September commencing at 7.30pm at Little Mill Village Hall, Pontypool; Caernarfonshire on Monday 12 September commencing at 7.30pm at the main lecture theatre at Glynllifon College and Anglesey on Tuesday September 13 commencing at 7.30pm at Tafarn Y Rhos, Rhostrehwfa, Llangefni.
“The future of many of the most significant issues, such as the future of financial support, trade agreements and legislative change, need to be discussed and we therefore encourage our members to identify those policy priorities, which will help develop a profitable and sustainable Welsh farming sector, that is able to withstand increasing price volatility,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.
The FUW is working closely with its membership through consultation, to ensure that future policy positions have the backing of the Welsh agricultural sector and that these policy deliver what the industry needs.
The consultation and online questionnaire are designed to give all Union members the chance to comment on some of the major issues relating to the types of agricultural policies that might best benefit Wales after the UK leaves the European Union.
In addition, the survey has space for individual comments on how Welsh farming and our rural communities could or should change in a way which improves our financial, environmental and cultural sustainability.
“The FUW remains in regular contact with Welsh and UK Ministers and civil servants and it is now important that we identify the possible post-Brexit opportunities for Welsh agriculture. We will be discussing the outcome of the internal consultation and the online survey at the our next Grand Council meeting at the end of the month and will then be making recommendations to the Government,” added Glyn Roberts.