NFU Cymru key asks referenced in Welsh Government statement

27 February 2024

The Senedd

First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS and Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths MS, have issued a statement today (27 February) on farming in Wales. This follows recent meetings with NFU Cymru and farmers, who have expressed the profound concerns of the industry.

A number of NFU Cymru’s key policy asks, raised during its meeting with the Rural Affairs Minister last week, are referenced within the statement.

NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “Welsh farmers are currently subject to numerous and significant pressures; bovine TB continues to cause heartache to farming families, agricultural inputs are over a third higher than pre-covid times, water quality regulations have added a huge regulatory and cost burden on farming businesses, the Basic Payment Scheme is set to be fully phased out in 2029 and Welsh Government is currently consulting on a new Sustainable Farming Scheme from 2025 - which as it stands is not going to give farmers the stability their businesses need. The cumulative effect of all of these issues is putting a huge amount of strain on farming businesses and their families.

Rising unrest

“There is rising unrest within the Welsh agricultural community and that is manifesting itself in many different forms, including tomorrow’s demonstration in Cardiff Bay.

“NFU Cymru is regularly engaging with the Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths MS, to express the industry’s deep concerns and we have left her in no doubt over the strength of feeling and seriousness of the situation following the robust feedback we have received from our series of roadshows, where well over 2,500 farmers attended. Last week, we met with the Minister to put forward a series of key asks to address the widespread worries held by the Welsh agricultural community and we implore Welsh Government to act on these concerns.”

Response to issues raised in the written statement

Bovine TB

Aled Jones continued: “On-farm slaughter of TB reactors causes enormous stress and turmoil for farming families. The statement refers to the bovine TB Technical Advisory Group, which when appointed, will look at on-farm slaughter as a matter of urgency and will consider the views of the NFU Cymru TB Focus Group, which recently met with Welsh Government to discuss this particular issue. We cannot emphasise enough how important it is that changes are implemented without further delay.

Water quality regulations

“The £20m of funding being made available to help farmers comply with the water quality regulations was originally announced in October 2022. With the storage requirements associated with the regulations coming into force from August this year, I cannot stress how important it is that this funding is released, without any further delay, to support investment on farm. Inflation has seriously eroded the value which can be achieved from this £20m - Welsh Government’s own impact assessment in 2021 put the figure to comply with the new regulations at £360m.

“The statutory four yearly review of the regulations must be an opportunity to have a genuine review of all aspects of the regulations with the aim of making them more practical and proportionate for Welsh farmers. The appointment of an independent external chair to oversee the process is a positive development and we sincerely hope that once appointed the Chair will work closely with the farming industry.

“This review needs to be expedited to ensure that proper consideration to the suitability of alternative measures is given and measures implemented prior to the current Enhanced Nutrient Management approach ending at the end of the year.

Sustainable Farming Scheme

“NFU Cymru has called for the formation of a science panel to look at and evaluate alternatives to tree planting. I note that the statement mentions an evidence-based review of any further and alternative proposals to achieve carbon sequestration within the SFS. I will be seeking further information from the Minister on this review to ensure that it properly considers the options and alternatives for Welsh farming. I firmly believe we should be making use of the fantastic scientific expertise we have here in Wales to find solutions to this matter.

“At our meeting with the Minister last week I was able to convey the very real concerns that our members have over the provision of farm data to the Government. Members are concerned over how that data will be used, who will have access to that data and the value of that data. I am therefore reassured that the statement today references this issue, but this is a matter that needs further consideration.

“Welsh Government also states that they will carry out an updated economic analysis. NFU Cymru is absolutely clear that this analysis must take into account the impact of the current SFS proposals on Welsh farming, rural communities and the supply chain. If necessary, the SFS should be paused and delayed until such time as we can be sure that the SFS can deliver the same level of stability to the whole agri-food supply chain and rural Wales as the current support arrangements."

Next steps

NFU Cymru will be meeting the Minister next week to seek further clarification on many of the issues raised in this statement and to press for the full set of recommendations that the union has presented to Government to be taken forward at the earliest opportunity.

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