NFU Cymru to stage ‘Brexit and Our Land’ consultation briefing events

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru is urging farmers across Wales to make their voices heard in the Welsh Government’s ‘Brexit and Our Land’ consultation.

The union said the consultation, launched earlier this week, will be the “most significant and important” Welsh Government consultation for a generation.

As a result, the organisation will be undertaking a comprehensive member engagement programme to ensure farmers are able to respond effectively to the proposals.

Speaking following the launch of the Welsh Government ‘Brexit and Our Land’ consultation, NFU Cymru President John Davies said: “NFU Cymru’s vision for a future Welsh agricultural policy is built firmly on three cornerstones: productivity, volatility and the environment.

“Although this consultation considers in detail productivity measures (economic resilience) and environment measures (public goods), it appears to suggest that volatility (stability) measures are not required.

“While we accept that the Welsh Government is proposing a multi-year phased removal of the BPS [Basic Payment Scheme].

Stability measures

“Given the unprecedented weather events of the last year, coupled with continued global political instability and the ongoing uncertainty over future trading relationships, the case for maintaining stability measures as a strong element of any future agricultural policy has, never been more compelling.

“The case for farm support is a strong one. Just last year the NFU commissioned research which showed that for every £1 invested by the Government in agriculture the industry delivers a return of around £7.40 – that’s a £1.5 billion return on the £200 million a year currently spent on direct payments in Wales,” he added.

“NFU Cymru welcomes the opportunity for the Welsh agricultural industry to take a closer look at Welsh Government’s thinking around the future of agricultural policy here in Wales. As a democratic organisation we will now begin an unprecedented level of engagement with our members and feed their views into our formal consultation response.

“Of course, this is not the first consultation on Brexit that NFU Cymru has undertaken; following the referendum vote just over two years ago NFU Cymru launched the biggest consultation in its history.

“Since that point, NFU Cymru has formulated a set of key principles that we believe should form the foundations of a new domestic agricultural policy for a productive, profitable and progressive agricultural industry in Wales.

NFU Cymru consultation event schedule

NFU Cymru Royal Welsh Show Brexit Consultation Seminar with Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths AM,
Wednesday, July 25, 2:00pm, NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Marquee (E347).

NFU Cymru consultation briefings at county shows: