Why this year is an important one for many reasons
A HAPPY new year to all our members and readers of this column. It has been four years since I joined NFU Cymru and every year I usually say that the year is an important one for farming. So, to remain consistent with that I will state that this is an important one again for many reasons.
The first one is that we are now farming outside the EU in terms of membership for the first time in most people’s living memories. At the eleventh hour, the UK Government managed to obtain a deal with Europe which means we can still trade with one of our biggest customers in a tariff-free market.
We will see some extra costs due to more red tape, and I have no doubt some of that extra cost will be sent down the chain to our farmers.
However, we are still a lot better off than we would have been if we were in a ‘No deal’ situation.
Saying that, the lamb and
ewe trade is buoyant and beef prices are still doing well, alongside the dairy trade. I hope to see agriculture becoming stronger than it has been compared to recent years.
Secondly, this year we have Welsh Government elections this May. We have seen that the current government’s proposed first domestic agriculture policy places little emphasis on supporting the production of domestic food.
When you know that the likes of Scotland and Northern Ireland are currently proposing to continue more or less the same way as Europe, and
continuing with a strong emphasis on direct support, it is hard to see how Welsh farmers will be able compete.
We have to remember that most farms in Wales are family run small operations, their businesses can be subject to major disruption as a result of matters completely outside their control. Direct support, currently provided through the Basic Payment Scheme, means that farmers have the ability to weather these storms and continue to supply high quality, safe and affordable food to the consumer.
A recent HCC report has shown that agriculture in
Wales is one of the best in terms of carbon emissions. Obviously, the environment is so important, and most farmers ensure that will remain so, but I remember what one farmer in a county meeting said about three years ago that still rings true today, ‘to be green you have got to be in the black’.
So, it is important to remember that farming still needs the support of the government wherever they are in the world, to ensure that agriculture is progressive. It will be important that whoever you plan on voting for during the May elections, to attend hustings where possible and to ask every politician what their manifesto for agriculture is.
Thirdly, we have all been in the Covid-19 pandemic now for nearly 10 months. I don’t see any silver linings from this but if pushed I would say it has shown the work that you, the farmer, does in the face of adversity to ensure that no one goes hungry. Even though there is now a vaccine for the disease we are still not out of the woods yet, so it is important that we still highlight the work the farmer must go through. I think the data shows that consumers from the UK have supported the farming industry this year as beef, lamb and dairy sales show an increase in 2020. Hopefully, when all this is over, support for our industry will continue.
Before I finish, I would like to invite you all to this year’s county conference. Unfortunately, it will be virtual this time round, but we have economist, Sean Rickard, as our speaker who will present his ideas on farming moving forward. It is sure to generate great debate. Members will have received an invitation, however if you aren’t a member and would like to know more about the evening phone 01982 554200. I shall see you all this Wednesday at 7.30pm.