An increase of 17% in lamb imports last year, according to 2022 UK trade data, and the months of September through to November recording abnormally high levels of frozen New Zealand product entering the UK (HCC figures), should serve as a stark warning to the UK Government, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has said.

GB prime lamb deadweight prices have fallen by 90 pence per kilo year on year and are now trending below the five year average despite buoyant markets during the pandemic.

Speaking after a meeting of the FUW's presidential team at which members' alarm regarding the fall in lamb prices coupled with massive increases in input costs were highlighted, FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “Ministers, MPs and Lords who were supportive of the UK Government's liberal approach to trade negotiations with New Zealand and Australia argued at the time that the Welsh sheep industry should not be concerned as those countries were well below the existing import quota limits and this was unlikely to change.

A recent consultation which would see mandatory CCTV in Welsh slaughterhouses was generally supported by members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales.  Members responding to the consultation hoped that mandatory CCTV would help provide greater consumer confidence in the high animal health and welfare standards used in Welsh livestock production. 

FUW Deputy Head of Policy Dr Hazel Wright said:

“Whilst members agreed with the presence of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses, they were clear that the industry must not be forced into bearing the costs of a complex system that is overly bureaucratic, officious and rigid. The current supply chain can function to adversely affect primary producers and producers can often become responsible for enduring any additional cost increases which have occurred further up the supply chain.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has responded to the Welsh Government consultation on nutrient management: managing the application of livestock manures sustainably, highlighting that the scheme requirements need to be flexible and work for Welsh farmers in the long term.

The consultation proposed a licencing scheme similar to the European Union derogation system which would allow qualifying farm holdings to increase the annual holding nitrogen limit of 170kg per hectare to 250kg subject to certain conditions - a scheme which would serve as a safety net for those eligible farmers who are already above the 170kg limit where reducing stock numbers or buying/renting additional land are not viable options.

FUW Senior Policy and Communications Officer Gareth Parry said:

We are pleased to inform you that Alys Roberts has been appointed as the new Deputy County Executive Officer for Anglesey. Alys will also be working as the FUW Agri-Enviromental Consultant.  We wish her all the very best of luck in her new role!

I live on a farm in the Henllan area, Denbigh which is a rural and Welsh speaking area. We keep beef cattle and sheep, and I help out at every possible opportunity. I have my own flock of Kerry Hill sheep, which I enjoy taking to shows, including the Royal Welsh.

In 2021, I graduated in BSc Geography at Aberystwyth University, and I hope to be able to draw on the strong environmental aspects of my degree going forward, especially considering the changes that are facing the agriculture industry.