Brecon and Radnor farmers and officials from the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) have met with local Member of the Senedd James Evans to discuss critical farming matters. The breakfast meeting, which was held at the FUW’s Pavilion in Builth Wells, provided an opportunity for members to highlight their concerns over future payments, carbon trading and tree planting and the Water Resources ‘NVZ’ regulations.
Raising the issue of future payments for farmers and the need to cap payments, FUW Brecon and Radnor County President Darren Williams said: “We have supported the capping of direct agricultural payments since 2007, after farm employee wages and other factors are taken into account, on the grounds that this maximises the amount of money going to typical Welsh family farms and rural communities. For the same reasons the FUW also proposed that redistributive payments should be allowed under EU regulations - which the EU accepted.”
The FUW successfully lobbied for the introduction of both payment capping and redistributive payments in Wales at the lowest rates allowed by EU Regulations at the time and maintains the view that payment capping and redistributive payments should be maintained and enhanced under future policies.
“This should be coupled with a strict ‘active farmer’ rule, to ensure money goes to the family farms that make the greatest contribution to rural economies and communities, and that the capping rates should be lowered subject to careful consideration of factors such as the number of families a farm supports as partners and employees,” he told the MS.
Members also discussed the complex issue of climate change and the need to limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. Countries around the world have pledged their ‘net zero’ targets, however, this has led to a surge in individuals and businesses seeking to offset their carbon emissions via the voluntary carbon market.
Mr Evans further heard that consequently, an increasing number of farms in Wales are being purchased by companies in order to plant trees and offset their own emissions, or sell the associated carbon credits in the future.
FUW Brecon and Radnor County Chairman Dwylan Davies said: “We maintain that the right tree should be planted in the right place for the right reasons. However, there are major concerns that land grabs for carbon offsetting could result in negative impacts on Wales’ family farms, the rural economy, biodiversity and Welsh culture.”
Union officials further highlighted that research by the FUW revealed an increase between 2015-2021 of around 450% in EIA afforestation applications to NRW, and that between 2019-21 almost 75% of the land with applications to plant over 50ha on were owned by private companies, individuals or charities located outside Wales.
“There is a real concern that much of this is beginning to be driven by large non-Welsh companies looking to offset or capitalise on the carbon market in the future. It is absolutely critical that offsetting must complement, not replace, the lowering of emissions,” added Mr Davies.
Welsh farmland, added Mr Davies, must not become a dumping ground for other industries and countries seeking to offset their emissions and sales of carbon credits from farmland must not undermine the ability of farm businesses to become net zero themselves in future.
“Effective governance is needed to ensure the carbon market is regulated and we have also called for a singular Soil Carbon Code. Carbon calculators also need to be accredited and standardised,” added the county chairman.
To conclude, Darren Williams added: “Despite the number of challenges currently facing the agricultural industry, we mustn't lose sight of the impacts the NVZ regulations will have for a large proportion of Welsh farmers.”
With ongoing supply chain issues resulting in ever increasing prices for building supplies, the estimated £360 million in infrastructure costs alone for Welsh farmers to become compliant with the regulations in their current form is likely to be much greater.
“While we await the outcome of the Senedd Economy Trade and Rural Affairs Committee’s review of the regulations, I urge the Member of the Senedd to consider the devastating consequences of the current approach and to support any recommendations which allow for a more targeted and workable approach,” he added.