The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging all farmers and those with an interest in the survival of the Welsh rural economy to attend one of its information evenings and hear about the Welsh Government’s proposal to replace ‘single farm payments’ with a single agri-environment/‘public goods’ scheme.
The Welsh Government’s ‘Brexit and our land: Securing the future of Welsh farming’ consultation, which closes on the 30th October 2018, proposes phasing out direct support for farmers by 2025, and replacing them with ‘payments for public goods’, accompanied by a ‘resilience scheme’ aimed at farm business improvement and development.
Glyn Roberts, FUW President, said: “While farmers across the country are busy planning how to cope with the imminent winter shortages, it is important they take a longer view of their businesses given what the Welsh Government is currently consulting on. In blunt terms, they propose replacing the Basic Payments which makes up around 80 percent of farm incomes with what is a souped up Glastir agri-environment scheme.”
“Given that Scotland and Northern Ireland intend to keep direct farm payments, as does every country in the EU, Welsh farmers should ask themselves how they would fare in a world without direct farm support, when their counterparts in Scotland or Ireland continue to receive payments.
Mr Roberts said that while the EU is looking at strengthening the ‘active farmer’ criteria to ensure money goes to family farms, the Welsh Government proposes making a future scheme open to anyone with land - something the FUW believes will lead to a massive flow of funding away from Wales’ rural economy to charities and big business.
“Farmers, agricultural contractors, mechanics, feed merchants and anyone else with an interest in Wales’ rural economy should make their views clear by responding to the consultation. Over the coming weeks the FUW will be hosting open meetings across Wales so people can discuss and respond directly to the proposals and I hope many of you will be there,” added Glyn Roberts.
Being safe on farm and reducing the high level of life changing incidents should be a priority for all who live and step foot on farm holdings.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales has expressed concern that the level of bovine TB in Wales has risen over the last 12 months, despite the introduction of further cattle control measures in October last year.
