The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers to make their views known following the publication of the Welsh Government’s consultation on the Rural Development Plan (RDP) for 2014-2020.
Farmers can respond through the union’s head office, their local county office or directly to the Welsh Government via the response form on their website.
The proposals outline how the Welsh Government intends to spend the £953 million allocated to Pillar Two of the Common Agricultural Policy between 2014 and 2020.
FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “The union is encouraging farmers to look carefully at the proposals within the document and to express their views on where rural development resources should be spent over the next programme by responding to the consultation document and attending the RDP consultation events organised by Wales Rural Network .
“Following the Minister’s decision to top slice 15% of Pillar 1 payments to fund rural development measures, it is vital that farmers get engaged in the process to help shape the proposals which could benefit their businesses.”
Two RDP consultation events, organised by Wales Rural Network, will be held on March 10 at St David’s Hotel, Ewloe, Queensferry, Flintshire CH5 3YB and on March 12 at Hafod a Hendre, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Powys LD2 3SY.
Those wishing to attend these meetings can register by contacting Welsh Government senior information officer Cath Midgley on 01686 620253 or 07817 405520.
The consultation document can be downloaded from the FUW’s website at: www.fuw.org.uk/Consultation/items/1359.html