Over the course of two packed days, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader and Deputy President Paul Williams, met with the party’s MPs, MSs, and Councillors, as well as party officials and members, discussing a range of issues of importance to the union’s members and to rural Wales.
Topics of discussion with MSs included the need to further evolve the Sustainable Farming Scheme in order to get more farmer participation, the move away from the farming by calendar approach in the NVZ rules, Bluetongue disease, the impact of the recent drought and wildfires and the need for a fresh approach to controlling and eradicating bovine TB.
With the party’s Westminster politicians, NFU Cymru's conversation focussed on issues such as costs of production and standards in imported food. The union emphasised the need for the UK Government to uphold standards in international trade agreements by following the lead of the European Union, which has banned imports of Brazilian beef and chicken which fail to match the UK's very high standards of production.
With Plaid Cymru now a party of government in Cardiff, the First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability Llyr Gruffydd were also visitors to the NFU Cymru stand.
NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said "It’s been great to welcome the First Minister and Cabinet Minister to our stand. I was glad of the opportunity to raise with them some of the issues we are facing in the agricultural sector after what has been a difficult and challenging few months for our farmers. I am keen to continue to work on behalf of our members to deliver on those policy objectives which are shared by NFU Cymru and Plaid Cymru.
"Paul and I are heading home from Llandudno having had two very busy days and so many really useful conversations with Plaid Cymru politicians and members. I very much hope that some of the key messages we have been delivering here in Llandudno have cut through with the politicians, and I am most grateful to all those who have made time to meet with us at Venue Cymru."
