Failure by successive Welsh Governments to instigate modelling work early enough has made it impossible to respond definitively to the Welsh Government’s consultation on the post 2014 CAP Payment regime, according to a majority of Farmers’ Union of Wales committees.

Twelve of the union’s county executive committees and eight central policy committees had considered the consultation paper, issued last July, ahead of the consultation deadline on Saturday (November 30).

The consultation dealt with an array of complex issues relating to the future CAP payment regime in Wales, with the single most important issue being which flat-rate payment model Wales should move towards after 2014.

Proposals had included a two-tier model with differing payment rates per hectare for moorland and the rest of Wales and a three-tier model with differing payment rates per hectare for moorland, Severely Disadvantaged, and "other" land.

“However, modelling of the likely impacts of different payment ratios and changes to the moorland map has continued throughout the consultation period, meaning the majority of our committees felt it was impossible to provide a definitive answer to the key questions posed in the consultation paper as the goalposts were continually being moved,” said FUW president Emyr Jones.

Mr Jones said that the conclusion was hardly surprising as people were unlikely to support a particular model when the geographic boundaries and payment rates for that model were unknown.

“While members praised the modelling work undertaken since June 2012, and the Welsh Government staff who have undertaken that work, there is an overwhelming feeling that the industry has been let down by successive Welsh Governments’ reluctance to instigate detailed modelling until the 11th hour.

“If we had been required to implement CAP reform in 2014, as originally intended, we would be in an even greater mess,” added Mr Jones.

In July 2009 the FUW warned that "…the movement to flat-rate payments is inevitable, and we need to start looking at all the options in order to find the best solution for the Welsh industry".

Those sentiments were reiterated in July 2011 when the FUW told the then newly-appointed deputy minister Alun Davies that there was a "desperate need for the Welsh Government to drive ahead with modelling work so we know where we currently stand, and where we want to be under the new CAP, given the inevitable move away from the historic single payment model...the delay in undertaking such work is regrettable".

“Four-and-a-half years after our initial warnings, we are sadly now in an ‘I told you so position’, which we definitely do not want to be in, that has caused extreme anger among members and has made it impossible for members to respond to a key question in the consultation document,” said Mr Jones.

In terms of the transition period over which farm payments should move from an historic to a flat-rate based system, Mr Jones said the union maintained its belief that a transition period of more than five years was needed - particularly if the failure to start modelling work soon enough was going to increase disruption for members.

“Whenever we have consulted on the transition period, the vast majority of members have favoured seven to 10 years. The Welsh Government originally supported that view but has since opted for five years.

“Wales has the option to implement an ‘internal convergence’ model whereby entitlement values move towards, but do not reach common values by 2019, and it is this option which is most in line with the views expressed by the majority of members on successive occasions.

“Such a system would provide those businesses which will be hit most severely by the move to a flat rate system with more time to make essential changes to their businesses in the face of falling CAP receipts.”

Members also expressed their opposition to the transfer of funds from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2, and the belief that any transfers should be match funded.

“The Welsh Government wishes to minimise disruption for Wales’ agriculture industry and, given that the Pillar 1 budget will be 1.6% lower in nominal terms after 2014 and even lower in real terms, modulation at any significant rate would add to the disruption felt by the industry and Welsh businesses,” said Mr Jones.

“Wales currently has a modulation rate of 11.5% and keeping Pillar 1 payments at the same level in nominal terms would mean a reduction in modulation of around 1.5% - while keeping the receipts the same in real terms would mean a far greater reduction.

“With a consultation on the future Pillar 2 Rural Development Plan not due out until next year, and the majority of Pillar 2 payments going towards replacing income foregone as a result of agri-environment measures, it would be wholly unacceptable for the maximum modulation rate of 15% to be applied without any guarantee that such a reduction will ultimately result in an increase in farm incomes for the vast majority.”

Farmers looking for advice on issues such as CAP reform, renewable energy, pylons, tenancy rights, compulsory purchase and rural property issues should visit the Farmers' Union of Wales stand at next week's Royal Welsh Winter Fair at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.

Land agents from Davis Meade Property Consultants will be available for a free consultation on the stand during the two-day event on Monday and Tuesday (December 2 and 3).

“This will be an opportunity for farmers to get an independent opinion on issues that are of concern to them,” said FUW land agent Philip Meade.

“Whether it’s a simple question on CAP reform, a compensation claim or a more complex tenancy matter we will be pleased to help.”

You can make an appointment by contacting Davis Meade Property Consultants on 01691 659658, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or just drop in for a cuppa and a mince pie at the FUW stand.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales president’s chosen charities - Ty Hafan and Ty Gobaith - will be the winners thanks to a national children's competition organised by the union to design a Christmas card with a farming theme that attracted hundreds of entries.

A selection of cards will form a colourful centrepiece to the FUW's stand at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Builth Wells on December 2 and 3 where the public will be able to purchase the winners’ cards in packs of 10 for £5 with the proceeds going to the children’s hospices.

The cards are also available to buy from FUW county offices throughout Wales or by mail order from the union's head office in Aberystwyth.

FUW president Emyr Jones said: "The competition was a great success again, attracting hundreds of entries from across Wales.

“I would like to thank every child who entered the competition and tell them that without their participation the contest would not have been such a success. I would also like to express my gratitude to the staff at the schools up and down the country that assisted the FUW in the running of the competition.

"It gave children in urban and rural areas of Wales an opportunity to connect with the farming industry and express their thoughts in a creative and colourful way. I believe it is vital that we as farmers maintain a strong link with young people so that they understand the way that food is produced in this country."

The competition was split into two categories - English and Welsh designs. The Welsh category was won by 10-year-old Elizebeth (correct spelling) Evans of Narberth CP School, Pembrokeshire, whose design shows a variety of farm animals in a wintery barn.

The winner of the English category was five-year-old Tilly Edwards of Caerau Primary School, Maesteg, whose design shows a merry Christmas cow with a glittery hat and tinsel decorated tail.

Both win a £30 gift voucher for themselves, a packet of the cards depicting their design and a £50 cheque for their school.

[caption id="attachment_2681" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The winner of the English category was five-year-old Tilly Edwards of Caerau Primary School, Maesteg, whose design shows a merry Christmas cow with a glittery hat and tinsel decorated tail.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2682" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Welsh category was won by 10-year-old Elizebeth Evans of Narberth CP School, Pembrokeshire, whose design shows a variety of farm animals in a wintery barn[/caption]

A variety of topics ranging from CAP reform, the future of the Euro and UK interest rates, and the controversial increased countryside access proposals were debated during the Farmers' Union of Wales Denbighshire branch annual general meeting on November 15 at the Brookhouse Mill, near Denbigh.

Members had an opportunity to question a panel - consisting of Anglesey farmer and FUW life member Tom Jones, HSBC Bank senior agriculture manager Bryn Edmunds and FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams - and discuss a number of agricultural and other topical issues.

Mr Jones provided an overview of the CAP as it is currently proposed in Wales, outlining the potential scenarios now being discussed in relation to land categories and how these might affect farms in areas like Denbighshire with its varied landscape and agricultural business types.

Mr Edmunds gave a bank’s perspective on the recent and long-term trends in interest rates, exchange rates and loan facilities (both historical and into the future) for various types of on-farm investments.

And Mr Williams gave the members an insight into the variety of subject areas that the FUW’s land use committee deals with throughout the year including the Welsh Government's recent proposals open up access to the countryside which is particularly contentious at present.

Following his annual report to the members, the evening was chaired by county chairman Iwan Jones who revealed that the branch had been particularly busy this year, with the main event being the National Eisteddfod, at which the branch had sponsored the Crown, undertook the parking duties for the week with the assistance of some local organisations and ran a very successful stand on the Eisteddfod Maes.

In addition, several shows were attended during the summer. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks by county vice chairman John Roberts who thanked the panellists for their contribution to the meeting, especially given the short notice following the withdrawal of Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM due to illness.