The meetings, which took place on Friday 23 June, formed a series of on-farm political engagements across Wales organised by NFU Cymru to round off the union’s activities as part of its Celebration of Welsh Food & Farming Week. The week of campaigning celebrated Welsh farmers’ role in producing high quality, affordable food alongside providing wider economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits for the people of Wales, all whilst meeting the sector’s ambition for net zero agriculture by 2040.
These local meetings were another opportunity for NFU Cymru to present Members of the Senedd with a Welsh wool wheatsheaf lapel badge. The eye-catching badges were provided by NFU Cymru to all 60 Senedd MSs to show their support for Welsh agriculture throughout the Celebration of Welsh Food & Farming Week.
Speaking after the meetings, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “We were really pleased to be able to welcome Members of the Senedd out on farm today. With the Agriculture Bill about to complete its Senedd journey, we will in due course see Welsh Government setting out further details on future support schemes to be designed and operated using the provisions contained in the bill.
“The focus of this week has very much been on young people, with NFU Cymru launching a new report setting out its key policy priorities to support the next generation of farmers.
“We must ensure that the new Sustainable Farming Scheme works, and it is fit for purpose, working for all farm types, sectors and tenure arrangements. Farmers should be given sufficient time to adapt their businesses to the new arrangements with the Sustainable Farming Scheme including an adequate stability element. As well as this, future support schemes need to recognise the important role Welsh agriculture plays in Wales’ food production, environment, landscape, economy, culture and heritage.
“As future policy is developed, I very much hope that Members of the Senedd who have visited farms today, continue to recognise the multiple benefits that Welsh farms deliver for the people and communities of Wales and that they will continue to be a supporter of our industry in the Senedd and will play their part in ensuring that future schemes deliver.”
Members of the Senedd on farm
Llyr Gruffydd MS
James Evans MS
Cefin Campbell MS
Sam Kurtz MS
Elin Jones MS
Ben Lake MP
Rebecca Evans MS