Exactly one year since their first visit, Farmers’ Union of Wales Gwent county chairman Wayne Langford has welcomed Plaid Cymru Senedd Members for South Wales East, Delyth Jewell and Peredur Owen Griffiths, back to his lambing shed to discuss the most critical farming matters.
Whilst keeping an eye on Wayne’s Welsh Mountain ewes and lambs, conversation quickly turned to the pressure of rising input costs. Since the Senedd Members last visited Wayne at Penrhyn in Trefil, ‘Agflation’ hit highs of 26% over the summer, and although it is now declining, the pressure of increased input costs remains a concern.
Tight profit margins are even more concerning given the uncertainty surrounding the future of farm support schemes in Wales. The FUW has repeatedly voiced concerns over the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme and in particular the ability for tenants, new entrants, and commoners to access the scheme.
Wayne, who grazes livestock on Llangynidr common explained: “There are so many benefits to my cattle grazing on the common. Not only do we manage the landscape but there are biodiversity gains too, for instance we’ve seen the return of curlews. The future scheme needs to support farmers to continue this on common land.”
FUW Regional Vice President, Brian Bowen added: “The Agriculture (Wales) Bill and Sustainable Farming Scheme will be key in keeping farming families in Wales producing food. I often hear that farmers aren’t sure if they have a future in the industry. It’s important that all farms are eligible to enter the SFS, and that it is economically viable to do so. Without that, we won’t achieve the environmental aims of the Bill and the Scheme.”
The Senedd members also heard how vitally important it is to have a prosperous and thriving industry which encourages new entrants to the sector. This has been a key message from the FUW in the SFS co-design and in the scrutiny process of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, which is currently making its way through the Senedd.
Wayne added: “Without placing emphasis on the economic viability of the industry, how can we expect young people to have aspirations in farming? Once again, this brings us back to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill and the SFS offering a future of thriving family farms, and I’m genuinely worried about the consequences if we don’t achieve that.”