FUW meets with new First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has met with the recently elected First Minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething, and new Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, to discuss the way forward for the farming industry.

Speaking after the meeting, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “We welcome this early opportunity to outline the current challenges we face as a farming industry and to discuss possible next steps with the newly appointed First Minister and Cabinet Secretary following our request for an urgent meeting.

“We made it very clear that the feeling of frustration and anxiety within the industry still very much exists, and we presented our extensive Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation response and a list of our key asks to the Cabinet Secretary.”

FUW Deputy Head of Policy Gareth Parry added: “We also welcome the recognition and appreciation from both the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary of the current situation we find ourselves in. This is a crucial first step in understanding the severity of the problems we face and finding the best way forward to address them.

“What we want to see is the establishment of a small focussed stakeholder group tasked with discussing and proposing changes to the scheme through genuine co-design,” he said.

President Ian Rickman added: “The recent Government reshuffle is certainly positive news for the industry as it presents a new opportunity for meaningful change to the current proposals. We look forward to regular meetings with the Cabinet Secretary, and First Minister, to ensure that the final version of the Sustainable Farming Scheme properly delivers for Welsh farmers.”

FUW presents strong case for SFS rethink to Senedd Climate Change Committee

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has recently (21 March) provided oral evidence as part of the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee’s inquiry into the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), during which the Union presented a strong case for the need to rethink current proposals.

Speaking during the session, FUW Deputy Head of Policy Gareth Parry said: “We have no doubt that by ensuring the mandatory element (universal layer) of the scheme is achievable, accessible and economically sustainable for all, it will deliver far better results in the long term rather than focussing on short-term targets which are only six years away.

“If this scheme is not economically sustainable for all actively farming businesses, the Welsh Government can forget about incorporating a mandatory tree cover target within the universal layer of the scheme of any percentage of land.”

In response to a question posed by the Committee around whether the current timescales allow for the scheme to be re-deigned to the extent it requires, Mr Parry made clear that nothing is impossible. However, whether or not the scheme is ready and workable by the end of this year will entirely depend on the imminent decisions the incoming Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs will have to make on how he engages with the industry over the coming months.

“The industry has been told repeatedly that this scheme will not be introduced until it is ready. We therefore left the Committee in no doubt that if we find ourselves in a position where the scheme is not fit for purpose by the end of this year, the extension of the Basic Payment Scheme which currently supports farmers at current rates must be a real option,” he said.

FUW Policy Officer Elin Jenkins added: “We need clear direction from the incoming Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on how he intends to genuinely engage with the industry at this crucial time, and we sincerely hope to have an urgent meeting immediately after the Senedd recess.

“What we want to see is the establishment of a small focussed SFS design stakeholder group which can consider changes to the scheme design and associated payment rates, with the option to create sub-groups or panels that consider the details of different elements of the scheme.

“This approach has previously been successful in introducing major changes to schemes, and as such we believe this approach should be applied to ensure that the SFS can be redesigned to the extent it requires within the time available.

“We welcome the opportunity to provide oral evidence to the Committee and contribute to the Committee’s recent stakeholder event and we have no doubt that the need for a serious rethink came over clearly during our evidence,” added Mrs Jenkins.

Huw Irranca-Davies MS takes on Rural Affairs portfolio at critical time for the industry, says FUW

As the recently appointed First Minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething MS, announces his new Senedd Cabinet, it has been revealed that Huw Irranca-Davies MS will be taking up the role of Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

In writing to the recently appointed Secretary, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Huw Irranca-Davies on being appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. On behalf of the FUW, I wish him every success in the role and we look forward to working with him and his officials in shaping a better future for Welsh agriculture.

"This is certainly an extremely busy time for the farming sector. However, the depth of feeling and frustration demonstrated only weeks ago in Cardiff and across Wales has by no means gone away. The new Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs takes on this portfolio at one of the most critical times for the future of our industry.”

Not only does this include the urgent need to rethink the Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals in genuine co-design with the farming unions, it also includes wider and longstanding issues. The Welsh Government’s approach to bovine TB management and eradication and the pan-Wales Control of Agricultural Pollution ‘NVZ’ regulations are topics causing the industry grave issues.

“The compounded impact of these current policies and proposals are evident by the widespread frustration and the significant increase in referrals rural mental health charities, such as the DPJ Foundation, have witnessed over recent months.

“We therefore look forward to working with Huw Irranca-Davies and his team to ensure that our members’ views receive the recognition they deserve in shaping agricultural policies in Wales that work for Welsh farmers,” added Mr Rickman.

FUW response to Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation highlights concerning amount of change required within the timeframe

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ response to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme: “Keeping farmers farming” consultation has highlighted the concerning amount of change that is required to make sure the scheme is fit for purpose within the time available.

The Union’s response was compiled following discussions with members and sector representatives at thirteen regional meetings across Wales. Those meetings, attended by hundreds of members, as well as others who have a direct or indirect interest in the agricultural industry, were instrumental in compiling FUW’s response. Engagement also took place at twelve FUW County Executive meetings and meetings of the Union’s ten Standing Committees.

FUW President Ian Rickman said: “The Union’s response to this final consultation on the Sustainable Farming Scheme provides a comprehensive insight into the views and concerns of our members.

“Firstly, we believe the overarching objectives of the scheme must be revised so that they align with the Welsh Way Forward principles and the nine objectives that underpin the current EU CAP framework, such as minimising adverse economic impacts and disruption for businesses, sectors and regions.

“At the very least, the SFS must provide meaningful support and income to active farmers in Wales for producing sustainable food in line with the first Sustainable Land Management objective.”

The FUW’s response also calls for the establishment of a small, focussed SFS design stakeholder group that includes the farming unions to consider the changes to the SFS and associated payment rates. There should also be the option to create sub-groups or panels that consider the details of different elements of the SFS, for example, in relation to broad policy areas such as woodlands.

“It is imperative that we use the next few months effectively to re-design elements of the scheme in collaboration with the Welsh Government and other key stakeholders.

“This includes ensuring that the scheme payment rates are calculated in agreement with farming unions by using evidence gathered from economic impact assessments and farm business data. This would ensure payments go beyond income foregone and costs incurred so that the scheme is economically sustainable for farm businesses.

“It also includes the need to ensure that all Universal Actions and scheme rules are accessible and achievable by all and do not represent barriers to scheme entry,” he said.

Such a group should also assess the overall budget required to deliver different versions of the SFS, so that a case can be made to the UK Government for adequate funding. Changes can be made to the final scheme if that funding falls short of what is required.

“The current and incoming Welsh Government must now seriously consider every single one of the thousands of responses to the consultation and work with the industry to design a scheme that is genuinely fit for purpose.

“On a final note, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the Union staff and to everyone who attended our SFS county meetings and contributed to the final FUW response,” concluded Ian Rickman.

FUW response Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation March 2024

A Welsh Way Forward

 

History repeating itself says FUW as two agricultural Senedd motions voted down

Following a protest by thousands of farmers and staff from associated businesses on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay last week (28 February), the Senedd proceeded to debate and vote down two motions on policies relating to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and bovine TB.

The Welsh Conservatives motion called on the Welsh Government to scrap the current sustainable farming scheme proposals and to re-engage with the farming sector to develop a new scheme that has the support of the farming community.

The second motion on bovine TB, tabled by Plaid Cymru, called on the Welsh Government to urgently undertake a long-term evaluation and appraisal of current cattle controls to determine their relative effectiveness in preventing and controlling disease transmission. Additionally the motion also asked for immediate changes to on-farm slaughter policy and establish policies which reflect wildlife as a source of infection.

Speaking in response to the debates, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “I am proud to say that the agricultural community stood in unity on the steps of the Senedd last week to express the strength of feeling towards the current situation and the future direction of agricultural policy in Wales.

“We heard many speakers say, including Senedd Members, how at difficult times we must stand together in unity. However, despite our presence and the very real frustrations of the farming community that have been demonstrated by events right across Wales over recent weeks, the Senedd votes reflected party political priorities rather than real consideration of the facts.

“This is history repeating itself since two years ago Plaid Cymru’s motion to annul the Control of Agricultural Pollution ‘NVZ’ regulations was lost by 30 votes to 27 despite the regulations repeatedly being referred to ‘as a hammer to crack a nut.’”

Following recent meetings with both farming unions and other farming representatives the First Minister and Minister for Rural Affairs issued a joint statement outlining the next steps now being considered to the SFS. There were also some comments made by the Government around the issue of bovine TB and the ‘NVZ’ regulations but no clear way forward has emerged on either of these two issues.

“While it’s positive to see that at least some steps are now being considered with the SFS, it is truly disheartening to think it has taken thousands of us standing on the steps of the Senedd for the Welsh Government to acknowledge the severity of the situation and issue a rather bland statement which doesn’t come close to addressing our concerns.

“As a professional farming union, with members’ interests at our core, we have a duty to work with both the government in power and the opposition parties to drive things forward. Our job will continue: ensuring that Wales’ agricultural sector and our family farms receive the consideration and respect they deserve,” added Mr Rickman.

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