Putting farming top of agenda at party political conferences

IT’S been a really busy few weeks, with party conference season in full swing. This year NFU Cymru has been present at all four political conferences and it was a fantastic opportunity to engage with Government ministers, AMs, MPs and MEPs to push the agenda of Welsh farming.

This was the first year that the NFU has had a stand at the Labour Party conference, this year held in Liverpool. I met a number of shadow ministers including Keir Starmer, Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, and Sue Hayman, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

I was pleased that a number of Welsh MPs, including Tonia Antonaizzi, Chris Elmore and Chris Ruane, showed their support for our work by visiting the stand over the two days.

It was then on to Birmingham for the Conservative Party conference, where again we had a good engagement with a number of MPs and ministers.

We met with Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and a number of Welsh MPs. I also managed to speak briefly with Prime Minister Theresa May.

Closer to home, along with NFU Cymru deputy president Aled Jones and Livestock Board chairman Wyn Evans, I attended the Plaid Cymru conference in Cardigan. We engaged with numerous AMs, including Plaid’s new leader Adam Price AM. I also took part in a debate titled Leaving the EU: The Impact on Wales.

I was pleased that Mr Price outlined his backing for Welsh farmers in his maiden address to conference. Immediately following his speech, conference backed an emergency motion, moved by Llyr Gruffydd AM, calling for the Welsh Government to ensure that Wales’ future agricultural policy retains direct support as a core element.

It is pleasing to see the party back the strong calls made by the agricultural industry in recent months for an element of stability to be maintained in future agricultural policy in Wales.

Finally, last weekend the Liberal Democrats met in Aberystwyth and our Livestock Board chairman Wyn Evans met up with Kirsty Williams AM and party leader Vince Cable MP.

I cannot stress enough how important it is that we all play our part in educating our elected politicians in the vital role food and farming plays in Welsh life, how each and every farmer supports a wide range of rural businesses and the voluntary roles we play in our local communities.

With the current Welsh Government Brexit and Our Land consultation period open at the moment, there has never been a more important time to speak up and make sure our voice is heard loud and clear by our AMs and MPs. I would urge you to get in touch with your local politicans, invite them out to your farm or call in and see them at a surgery they are holding in your area.

It is of paramount importance that every farmer, rural business, agricultural student, YFC member and everyone who cares for and recognises the importance of food and farming to Wales responds to this consultation. I want to make sure that food production is at the heart of a future Welsh agricultural policy.

At present, I feel our role in providing high-quality, safe and fully traceable food to a Welsh food and drink industry worth nearly £7bn is not featured prominently enough in Welsh Government proposals.

I have an ambition to see continued growth of the food and farming sector in Wales. The Welsh food and drink sector is on the cusp of reaching the ambitious 30% growth target it set itself for the period 2014-20. I want to see our future agricultural policy in Wales working hand in hand with the food and drink industry to deliver continued growth, employing more people and bringing more investment to Wales.

We need to make sure we have our say before it is too late – respond to the consultation using the NFU Cymru online response form at https://web.nfuonline.com/WelshConsultation/