The "worrying times" facing Welsh farming in its bid to produce food of the highest quality were highlighted at the Farmers’ Union of Wales farmhouse breakfast at the Senedd today.
FUW president Emyr Jones said one of the major issues facing the industry was the current review of the Common Agricultural Policy.
"At times it’s quite worrying going around Wales and talking to fellow farmers. So I hope that together we can do the best for Welsh farming," he told AMs.
He outlined the future need for farmers to produce more food as the world population is expected to rise sharply from the current seven billion to 9.3bn by 2050. "How are we going to have enough food to feed the extra 2.3bn?
"Research and development will play a vital role in our industry in the future so I was disappointed when I heard that the Welsh Government intends selling off the land around the Pwllpeiran upland research farm in Ceredigion piece by piece from this autumn.
"I think this is a backward step. Years ago I used Pwllpeiran’s expertise to improve my own farm so let Pwllpeiran continue its work in the future.
"Another aspect of the farming industry in Wales is the need to have healthy animals because without them farming is worthless.
"But we are still waiting for an announcement from John Griffiths, the minister for environment and sustainable development, who has already said he wants to eradicate bovine TB.
"What we want in 2012, Mr Griffiths, is action not words. What we want is a prosperous farming industry and we can do that together.
"Let’s work together in 2012 which is a leap year. Let’s make sure that the industry leaps forward in 2012 so we can provide a future for family farms and our young farmers."
Later Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies, who hosted the FUW breakfast, raised the bovine TB issue in the Senedd with finance minister and Leader of the House Jane Hutt.
He said: "I had the privilege of hosting the annual farmhouse breakfast for the Farmers’ Union of Wales here this morning to promote the excellent quality of Welsh produce. Farmers at this event were very positive about the industry, but they continue to be concerned about the effects of bovine TB.
"Last year, the First Minister made it clear that the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development would be making a statement early in the New Year about tackling the disease, and whether the proposed badger cull would go ahead. I note from the forward business agenda that there are no plans for the Minister for Environment to make a statement.
"Could I ask the Leader of the House to impress upon the Minister the need to bring forward a statement on this important issue as soon as possible?"
Jane Hutt replied: "I thank Paul Davies for acknowledging the excellent breakfast this morning, which was enjoyed by many Assembly Members, showing what the farmers of Wales can produce. The issue of the bovine TB eradication programme is being considered carefully, and he will report further on that early in the New Year."
Andy Woodthorpe, director of banking for rural Wales for one of the breakfast’s sponsors NatWest Bank, said: "The next couple of years will see many changes to Welsh farmers not least with the changes to the CAP farm subsidiary.
"Widely available data suggests on a global scale that there will be more mouths to feed and in some places less water to accommodate those needs - thus globally demand should continue to grow for Welsh produce. But, and there’s always a but, agriculture borrows more than it saves.
"Interest rates will rise sooner or later so a key cost will rise for most. If UK rates rise quicker than the Euro then that tends to make the pound stronger v Euro so farmers receive less subsidy and makes the market harder against foreign competitors - thus income could be reduced.
"Thus, as markets become potentially tougher, it is vital that we continue to promote Welsh farm produce with events such as the Farmhouse Breakfast Week."
Dai Davies, chairman of another sponsor Hybu Cig Cymru, said: "The Welsh red meat industry can play a key role to boost the economy during these troubled times.
"Increasing demand from consumers for Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef, particularly in emerging overseas markets, means the profits come back to farmers and processors in Wales to spend in their communities.
“We want to bring the wealth back to Wales,†he said.
“I’m particularly pleased that the FUW has managed to invite the American Counsellor for Agricultural Affairs, who is based at the US Embassy in London, to their Farmhouse Breakfast Week event at the House of Lords next week and I look forward to discussing the latest international trade negotiations with him.
“Despite the overriding gloom and doom in the economy, I remain optimistic that thanks to the quality and demand for our products there is a bright future for the Welsh food industry.â€
The Welsh Government was the third sponsor of the event and deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies said: "These are very exciting times for the industry and I believe we produce food products in Wales which are world beating.
"All of us together have an opportunity to sell that belief throughout Wales. I have a belief in Welsh produce and we have an opportunity to create a financial framework for the future of the industry.
"I am not interested just in the survival of the industry - I am interested in a positive future. Leadership is all about believing in the future. Leadership is understanding your vision for the future and articulating what we need in Wales.
"Leadership is not looking back, it’s looking forward, and I hope that we get that leadership and positive view for the future."
Ends
BREAKFAST AT THE SENEDD: From left, Emyr Jones, Andy Woodthorpe, Alun Davies and Dai Davies.
