Time to pause and reflect on farming

PUBLISHING a Bill whose provisions could potentially have a serious impact on the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and farmworkers is a tricky thing to do at the best of times.

It seems positively foolhardy when Brexit is still such an insubstantial but looming shadow that is affecting all aspects of political life in Wales and the UK.

What are farmers to make of the nebulous term “public goods” on whose delivery a significant part of their future income is meant to depend?

The UK Government may believe it has consulted fully with the farming community and its representatives about its proposals, but farming unions clearly disagree.

It is not often that officials of the Farmers’ Union for Wales describe a government proposal as “a very dangerous leap into the unknown with potentially catastrophic consequences” for food production and rural communities,

The language used reflects the level of concern felt by the union and by the farmers it represents.

We have recently heard alarming predictions about the consequences for the nation’s food supply of a “no deal” Brexit. According to the Westminster government’s own experts, there would be a serious possibility of food shortages.

Currently, we are not self-sufficient in food – nor are we ever likely to be. As tastes have become more sophisticated, many of us want products from abroad.

Equally, our Welsh farmers have also developed a strong export market for their high quality produce.

Food security is absolutely essential for the functioning of any society. Ensuring it must surely be the top priority for any government.

Yet while our future is still so uncertain because of ongoing Brexit talks, the UK and Welsh governments are pressing ahead with major reforms that could imperil our future food supply. There seems no logical reason for this.

Surely it would be appropriate to pause, reflect, and fine-tune any proposals that both governments may want to put forward.

Legislating at a time when it remains impossible to guess how Brexit will pan out seems foolish and unnecessary. In Whitehall and Cathays Park there must be a rethink. Pressing ahead at this time without the agreement of the sector is not the right thing to do.

As much as the two governments may want to make changes, now is not the time.