The challenges and opportunities ahead
THE British people’s unexpected decision to vote for Brexit in June provides a “unique opportunity” to shape new policies to make farming more productive and profitable, NFU Cymru president Stephen James has said in his New Year message.
Stephen James said that 2016 would go down in the history books as “a truly unprecedented year for Wales, the UK and indeed the rest of the world”.
He said that Brexit had dominated discussions following the referendum and that Britain’s exit from the EU “is without doubt going to be one of the biggest challenges our industry has faced in decades – but of course with challenges come opportunities.”
Mr James added: “We now have a unique opportunity to shape and develop policies that are fit for purpose, forward-thinking and enable us to develop, grow and realise NFU Cymru’s vision of a productive, progressive and profitable industry that will deliver jobs, growth and investment for Wales.
“We also have the opportunity to create a new regulatory landscape in Wales, a framework based on maintaining and enhancing our worldleading standards based on evidence, science and voluntary measures, rather than immediately turning to the statute book.”
Mr James said that, in the short term, the single most important issue for Welsh agriculture is securing “the best possible access to European markets, ensuring that our access is not fettered by tariffs and non-tariff barriers”.
He added: “Our domestic markets must also deliver for Welsh agriculture. As a union, we are committed to regular engagement with the major retailers and food-buyers to ensure that Welsh food is front and centre on retail shelves and in the food service sector.
“I am pleased with our successes in 2016, on lamb in particular, but recognise that there is much more to do to improve relationships and deliver better returns across the entire supply chain.”
Mr James said that bovine TB continues to cast “a dark shadow over our cattle industry”, with nearly 10,000 cattle slaughtered in Wales over the past 12 months, a dramatic rise of 35% over the previous 12 months.
He said: “The concern and frustration amongst farmers is as palpable as I have ever seen it. Welsh Government cannot continue to push costs back to farmers without taking responsibility for the reservoir of disease in wildlife.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM, has given us a glimmer of hope that this issue will begin to be addressed in 2017 and I cannot stress to her enough the importance of a comprehensive TB strategy for Wales.”
Mr James also spoke about the Welsh Government’s proposal to extend nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) designation over wide areas – or even the whole – of Wales.
He said: “The threat of nitrate vulnerable zone designations hangs over all of Wales. We have questioned much of the evidence base behind these proposals and do not believe that Welsh Government has properly assessed the impact that designation will have on farming businesses and the wider rural economy.
“Our NVZ survey has shown that it will cost on average nearly £80,000 for those without sufficient slurry storage to achieve compliance with the directive. With three-quarters of farmers surveyed willing to consider a voluntary approach to managing nitrate levels, we believe this is a great opportunity for Welsh Government to make use of the new legislative framework in Wales offered by the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 to deliver an alternative approach rather than an unwieldly EU directive.”
Mr James also spoke of the difficulties many farmers had faced over cash-flow in 2016, with the delays in the 2015 BPS payments and low milk prices.
But he said he was optimistic for the future, with the “good news” from Rural Payments Wales (RPW) on the 2016 BPS payments and improving milk prices.
He said he was fortunate in his role to meet “so many passionate, driven farming families, investing for the long term in Welsh agriculture and I continue to be inspired by the next generation of farmers”.
He added: “Welsh farming delivers for the economy, the environment and the landscape of Wales. We provide the raw materials for a £6bn food and drink industry, we maintain the landscape that is the backdrop to a £2.5bn tourism industry and nearly 600,000 hectares of our land is farmed under environmental schemes.
“Farmers, the supply chain and government alike should all be extremely proud of our story and we should all be playing our part in promoting and selling our industry to Wales, the UK and the world.
“NFU Cymru will ensure that farming continues to deliver and plays a part in delivering for the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales.”