The farming union's table-top display mimics the scene on kitchen tables and in farm offices throughout Wales as thousands of farming families grapple with a mountain of policy and regulations.
Combined, the paperwork relating to policies and regulations that the majority of farmers must adhere to, such as the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), livestock and pesticide records, animal health rules, water quality and waste exemptions runs to over 4,000 pages of A4 paper – enough to measure two and a half times around the Royal Welsh Show's main ring if placed end to end.
Independent review
Last month, the new Welsh Government commissioned an independent review of the burden of regulation affecting Welsh farming businesses, which will be carried out by well-respected Brecon farmer John Davies.
NFU Cymru welcomed that announcement and the union’s Royal Welsh Show kitchen table display only serves to further highlight why the ongoing review is of such importance.
“The kitchen table is the beating heart of the Welsh family farm. Not only is it where delicious food is served day each day, but it’s also where the family come together to talk through their day-to-day work and where the generations pass on knowledge and agree plans and aspirations for the future.”
Abi Reader, NFU Cymru President
Beating heart
NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: "The kitchen table is the beating heart of the Welsh family farm. Not only is it where delicious food is served day each day, but it's also where the family come together to talk through their day-to-day work and where the generations pass on knowledge and agree plans and aspirations for the future.
It’s a place for laughter and tears, a place where local shows are planned and YFC pantomimes are written.
It’s also, for many, the farm office. But the burden of regulation weighs heavily on that kitchen table. Throughout the Royal Welsh Show, we'll host a typical farmhouse kitchen table holding a collection of the everyday guidance and record keeping requirements a farming family will need to understand to adhere with government policy and regulation.
"Documents relating to the SFS (which alone accounts for 1,000 pages), and other guidance and records such as livestock and pesticide records, animal health rules, water quality workbooks and waste exemptions amount to over 4,000 pages.
100 hours of reading
Putting those 4,000 pages end-to-end would stretch two and a half times around the Royal Welsh Show main ring and even a conservative estimate suggests it totals more than 100 hours of reading.
We have not even considered the additional information required for those looking to enter the optional and collaborative layers of the SFS, or the paperwork attached to the additional voluntary activities that farmers may undertake for Farm Assurance or supply chain agreements. Nor does this figure take account of work relating to HMRC or the activities related to running a financial business.
"All of this needs to be completed alongside caring for and managing the crops and livestock on the farm and maintaining and enhancing the farmed environment.
Essential but proportionate
"I want to be clear - regulation hasan essential role in underpinning the high standards that are crucial to maintain consumer confidence and sell our produce on markets at home and abroad. We accept that in return for receiving government support our businesses must adhere to certain conditions and be subject to audit.
But these rules must also be proportionate, workable and joined-up. The sheer volume and complexity of current rules is placing an unsustainable pressure on farming businesses.
"In this online world it is often far too easy to prepare and publish documents without considering what this may look like in paper form, or the cumulative impact of all these documents. Let us not forget our farming families need to read and understand all these guidance documents, rules and regulations.
They must do so to maintain the records required by legislation, farm according to guidance, ensure their application forms are not rejected and hope that when the inspector arrives, they are fully compliant. In the event of what can often be a minor error in record keeping or compliance, you can be sure they will be referred to a specific sentence contained within one of those 4,000 pages of guidance and suffer the ignominy of - at best - a warning letter, but more likely a punishing financial sanction.
Practical and achievable
"Whilst the farmer must be fully conversant of all these varied policies and regulations, no one inspector or agency is similarly able to audit this farm. Instead, a multitude of government departments and regulatory agencies are needed to check on compliance.
"Last month we welcomed the announcement from the Cabinet Minister that John Davies would be leading an independent review to examine the bureaucratic burden on Welsh farm businesses. This review was a key ask contained within NFU Cymru's ‘Growing Forward’ election manifesto and one of the pledges made by Plaid Cymru for its first 100 days of Government.
"This review must focus on streamlining on-farm requirements, cutting duplication, improving clarity and ensuring that policy delivery is practical and achievable for farm businesses on the ground.
"NFU Cymru is committed to working positively and constructively with the independent review to deliver the change that this kitchen table shows is so clearly needed."
