In the event chaired by Brecon and Radnor MP, David Chadwick, key messages from both Unions’ Senedd elections manifestos were communicated to the audience.
Amongst these was the need for the SFS to provide stability for farmers in Wales, the necessity of fair and sufficient funding for Welsh agriculture, a genuinely comprehensive TB eradication strategy which combats the disease in all its sources, a risk-based and evidence-led approach to water quality, and a review of the regulatory burden faced by farmers.
Additional financial pressures
With recent global events now placing additional financial pressures on the sector, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “For well over a decade the amount of funding available to support Welsh farmers has remained cash-flat.
Inflation has therefore made significant inroads into the real terms value of this funding, whilst farmers are also facing significant and rising costs associated with regulatory and environmental compliance.
The unfolding conflict in the Middle East has underscored yet again the importance of ensuring that there is sufficient and secure funding available to support Welsh agriculture, and to ensure our farming families are able to carry on producing the food we need in a volatile world.”
Developing Abi’s comments further FUW President, Mr Ian Rickman said: “Had the agricultural budget kept pace with inflation it would now be well in excess of £500 million.
We need the next Welsh Government to commit to an inflation adjusted, ring-fenced, multi-annual budget which matches our shared ambitions for the sustainable growth of the sector, with the majority of that funding directed towards stability, productivity, and efficiency gains on-farm.”
Significant Role
Delegates also heard from the Unions of how future uplifts to agricultural support funding in Wales are now subject to the Barnett formula, with both NFU Cymru and the FUW setting out their shared concerns about the disadvantage such an arrangement means for Wales.
FU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “When agriculture plays a more significant role in the national economy than in some other parts of the UK, we need to ensure that future uplifts to agricultural support fairly reflect the size and scale of the sector in Wales, rather than being tied to population size via the Barnett formula.”
Changes to IHT
There were also heartfelt thanks from both Presidents for the support of the Welsh Liberal Democrats during the 14-month battle with the UK Government over its inheritance tax changes.
With Abi Reader commenting: “After a long, hard-fought campaign, a fantastic outcome was secured in December when we saw the threshold at which IHT kicks in raised significantly. Whilst the taxation of business assets as if they were personal wealth remains misguided, the adjustment of the thresholds upwards, combined with the transferability of the allowance now places most family farms in Wales outside the reach of this destructive tax and that is something to be welcomed.”
Bringing proceedings to a close Mr Rickman said: “Both Unions have today emphasised how fair and sustainable funding, evidence-based policymaking and regulatory reform will all be crucial to safeguarding the viability and long-term sustainability of Welsh agriculture.
On behalf of the FUW and NFU Cymru I want to say a big thank you to David Chadwick MP for chairing this afternoon’s session and to all those who came along, listened, and contributed to the discussion. Between now and May 7 we look forward to continuing constructive engagement with all parties to ensure our shared asks are delivered for the benefit of our farmers, rural communities, and the wider Welsh economy.”
More from NFU Cymru:
