Agriculture and the countryside make an important
contribution to the Welsh economy and the Nation’s way of life.
Although Wales is only
some 5% of the population of the UK it has 9% of the agricultural land, 29% of
the sheep, and 12% of the cattle in the UK with 60,000 people engaged in farming.
So across vast
areas of Wales farmers and their businesses are vital within their communities
and play an important role in ensuring a strong and vibrant local economy and
in preserving the landscape and environment that so many of us enjoy whether
living, working or visiting the countryside. There was a notable contribution from the former MP for Brecon and
Radnor Roger Williams whose knowledge of the industry is considerable.
Unfortunately the sound effect on the video clip is not as good as it should be but the points I made and covered were:
Coping with market
volatility in a global market where volatility is bound to happen. Over the
summer lamb and milk prices caused farmers to face challenging times
receiving less for their products than the cost of production. The Welsh
Government must forever be vigilant and be ready to support the industry when
there are such prolonged periods of volatility.
The importance of
striking the right balance between production and environmental concerns to
ensure that agriculture can be sustainable.
To ensure
sustainable agriculture within a sustainable community there are four important
elements - supporting rural services and economy, looking after the environment,
safeguarding our heritage and ensuring good levels of income.
The various rural development policies and initiatives being promoted by the European Union does contribute effectively to supporting the rural economy, communities, heritage and landscape and the Rural Development Plans programme makes an invaluable contribution. This funding not only supports the agricultural industry but also services such as tourism and other rural services.
Of course should UKIP and others in the Tory party
were to have their way and Britain did leave the European Union there is little
question that rural businesses would find it more difficult to survive.
Currently some £4.0bn is received in subsidy payments and the best guess that
has been made is that a British Government operating on its own would only be
able to replace some £1.0bn of that. So leaving the EU would have serious
consequences for farming.
The devastating effect on the nation’s farmers and
hence the rural economy can best be exemplified by this fact alone that at
present on average farmers rely on the EU programme of support for some 35-50%
of their gross incomes. It would be a bleak future indeed outside the EU and it
is estimated that only some 10-15% of farmers could survive without the current
levels of support.
This was the motion passed at the conference
Conference Notes that:
1. Agriculture and its ancillary industries make a major contribution to
the Welsh
economy, with a gross value added of agriculture to the Welsh economy in
2014 of
£374m.
2. Agriculture provides the backbone for rural communities, around which
other sources of income can be created.
3. Average Farm Business Income in Wales is forecast to fall to £22,200
in 2014-15, a decline of 24 per cent from £29,300 in 2013-14.
4. The average age of Welsh farmers continues to rise from 60.26 in
2013, compared to 59.58 in 2010 and 58.47 in 2007, and that young entrants face
particular challenges.
5. The Common Agricultural Policy is, and always has been since its
inception, a subsidy
on food production which benefits the retailer and consumer at least as
much as the
primary producer and its relationship to farm incomes is complex.
6. Food production is one of very few industries necessary for the most
basic of human needs.
7. There is an increasing disconnect between rural and urban communities
resulting in a fundamental lack of knowledge around food production and that
initiatives such as ‘Cows on Tour’ introduced by farming unions can help to
address this.
8. Farmers wishing to modernise increasingly find themselves facing
planning
obstructions which can unfairly extend the process and reduce the
cost-effectiveness
of the steps they need to take to maintain a viable business.
9. Global food markets are increasingly volatile and that the importance
of food security is as great as it has been at any time since 1945, with UK
food self-sufficiency at around 60%; a decrease from around 75% in 1991.
Conference Believes That:
1. It is important to maintain agricultural production throughout rural
Wales, including both lowland and upland production, for the sake of Welsh
rural communities as well as farmers.
2. The natural environment is best cared for by a continuation of
farming tailored to the needs of individual areas, including their
environmental needs.
3. Both large modern units and smaller scale units able to benefit from
niche marketing will be necessary and beneficial to Wales and its agriculture.
4. Farmers should be supported in finding the best route to
profitability and sustainable production depending on their individual
situation.
5. Support for farmers should continue to be given to all farmers in an
equitable way so as to maintain the balance between small and large, upland and
lowland.
6. We must recognise that Common Agricultural Policy funding will
continue to reduce and that it should be used as effectively as possible with
an emphasis on maintaining appropriate food production.
7. The maintenance of food security should be central to any
agricultural decisions made in Wales and that such decisions should always
consider their long term impact on Wales' ability to continue to feed itself.
8. Planning processes should be improved to avoid unnecessary
complications and
delays and favour maintaining sound businesses of all sorts to support
jobs and living standards, whilst remaining sufficiently rigorous to protect
communities from
inappropriate development.
9. The Welsh people would benefit from knowledge of food production
being made more widespread, especially from an early age.
Conference Calls For:
1. The Welsh Government to implement policy initiatives to safeguard
agriculture and food production across Wales and especially to embed food
production using suitable systems into all environmental decision making in
rural Wales.
2. The Farming Connect network to help farmers and landowners to find
the best route to both profitability and sustainability according to their
situation, in particular to recognise the importance of Field Officers and the
harnessing of local knowledge in building confidence and resilience in the
farming sector, whilst minimising the level of generic consultancy services
funded through Farming Connect.
3. The Welsh Government to work with local authorities to improve the
planning process for all Welsh businesses, to ensure minimal delays and long
term support for the sustainability of entire communities.
4. A fundamental review of TAN 6 guidance on ‘Planning for Sustainable
Rural
Communities’ so as to enable real progress to be made in the provision
of affordable rural housing across Wales. It is also important both for younger
entrants as well as providing appropriate accommodation for farmers wishing to
handover to the next generation.
5. The Welsh Government to work with the National Farmers Union, the
Farmers Union of Wales and Wales Young Farmers Clubs to support YFC activity in
urban areas and to take farming and food production into schools across Wales
and beyond, to show children from primary level, both rural and urban, how
animals are reared and food is produced and what contribution this makes to the
nation.
6. The Welsh Government to maintain its support to farming across Wales
in an equitable manner, bearing in mind the needs of communities for a strong
farming sector in all areas, as CAP funding tapers down.
7. A full review of agri-environment schemes to ensure that they achieve
sustainable
farming and environmental management and to ensure that they are fully
funded so
that farmers are properly rewarded for the conservation work they carry
out.
8. The Welsh Government to further develop support for young farming
entrants in Wales with an emphasis on the potential contribution of share
farming and the significance of local authority owned agricultural holdings