Hundreds of NFU Cymru members made their views heard during a series of roadshows to consider Welsh Government’s consultation.
One of the key messages was that farmers are “much more than land managers” and want Welsh Government to put food production at the heart of a future ‘Made in Wales’ farming policy’.
The meetings, chaired by NFU Cymru president, John Davies, began with presentations from the union’s policy team explaining the consultation proposals and how they fit into the context of Brexit.
The roadshows are part of a comprehensive member engagement programme that the union is running during the consultation period.
‘Proud to be farmers’
Davies, said: “Members have flooded into our roadshow events this week and have positively engaged in discussions on the most important consultation in our generation.
“I am immensely proud to be the president of a union representing such passionate and ambitious farmers, all united around a common goal of being proud to produce safe, high quality, traceable and affordable food for the consumer.
“The consultation, time and time again, refers to a future land management programme designed to support land managers.
Let us be clear, each and every one of us is proud to be called a farmer. Farmers are much more than land managers, we have a wide range of skills that all contribute to making our businesses successful.
“The rather narrow definition of land managers, used in the consultation, does not adequately cover the role that we play in underpinning rural communities and the economy of Wales.”
‘Stability and productivity’
Davies explained that stability and productivity must be central to any future farming policy.
“Farming and food production must be at the core of future policy in Wales and policy must be targeted at those who are taking the financial and business risks associated with producing food,” he said.
“Farmers can only invest in productivity and environment measures if their business has a stable foundation. Direct payments have been crucial in providing that stability and similar measures must be a part of future agricultural policy in Wales.
“How these measures have been delivered in Wales have changed and evolved significantly over the years and this week our members have expressed their willingness to consider further evolution, providing that the measures continue to deliver the much-needed stability that the industry requires.
“Welsh Government has said that this is a genuine consultation and that they want to hear the views of farmers.
“The message from farmers this week cannot have been clearer, farmers want to be called farmers and they want our Government to put food production at the heart of future farming policy in Wales.”
‘We embrace change’
NFU Cymru deputy president, Aled Jones, added: “As farmers we accept change, we embrace change but we must be the architects of that change. Welsh Government needs to listen and act on our views.
“As an industry, we must all work together to positively influence the direction of this consultation to put in place a policy that is made in Wales – for Wales, to realise our ambition of a productive, progressive and profitable industry.
“Never has it been more important for each and every one of us to play our part in making sure that farmers’ voices are heard as part of this consultation.”
