Two farming unions have said they have an "unrivalled mandate" to form a basis for a "Welsh way forward" for farmers once the UK leaves the EU.
Wales’ two farming unions, Farmers’ Union of Wales and NFU Cymru, have launched a joint paper aimed at placing food and farming on a firm post-Brexit footing.
The paper, entitled ‘A Welsh way forward’, was revealed at a briefing session for Assembly Members and Welsh Government staff on Wednesday (October 24).
The publication comes in response to the Welsh Government’s current consultation on future rural and land management policies – entitled ‘Brexit and our land’.
With the Tuesday 30 October deadline nearing, the consultation - described as the biggest consultation on Welsh farming in a generation - seeks to shape thoughts on the industry post-Brexit.
The consultation seeks views on how Welsh Government proposes to support farmers after Brexit. It proposes a phased withdrawal of the Basic Payment Scheme to be replaced by two new schemes; an economic resilience scheme and a public goods scheme.
But there is some concern within the industry that the proposed scheme unveiled by Welsh Government will make farmers worse off once the UK leaves the EU.
'Unrivalled mandate'
Since the consultation was launched, both farming unions have held meetings throughout Wales, engaging with thousands of farmers.
Based on their respective consultation engagement programmes, the unions have now said they have gained an "unrivalled mandate" to speak on behalf of rural Wales.
NFU Cymru President, John Davies said: “We are proud to represent small and large farms, whether they be owned or tenanted, corn or horn, horticulture or poultry, newcomers to the industry or those whose families have farmed the same land for generations.
“All of these people share a common goal and a passion, which is to produce safe, high-quality, affordable food, all whilst caring for and enhancing our environment and our treasured landscape,” he added.
Addressing Assembly Members, Farmers' Union of Wales President, Glyn Roberts highlighted that farming families are part of a wider family, a family that extends along the entire supply chain.
He said: “The Welsh food and farming sector supports over 240,000 jobs, with nearly 52,000 employed on Welsh farms alone
“And in our communities, employment figures show that up to 28 percent of people work in the agricultural industry. So of course we are united in our opposition to any proposals that may threaten not only farming families, but also those tens of thousands of individuals and businesses which rely on the sector,” said Mr Roberts.
Mr Davies added: “It is clear what is at stake if we get future rural policy wrong. Brexit means we are facing significant threats that are outside our control as farmers. But in these uncertain times there are ways to carefully develop Welsh policies in order to secure our nation’s future prosperity.”
Five principles
Assembly Members heard how NFU Cymru and the FUW had joined forces to agree on a set of policy principles which hope to define a way forward that is uniquely Welsh.
Both unions said the priority for Welsh Government must be to provide stability in a "world of uncertainty".
"Significant changes should only be considered once we have a clearer knowledge of our future trading relationships and following a thorough assessment of the impacts of trade and policy changes on every business, sector and regions of Wales," both unions said in a statement.
Other principles highlighted are the need to keep active family farms producing food, direct support from Government to underpin food production, invest in measures to drive sustainable agriculture and reward environmental outcomes.
Mr Davies said: “We are firmly of the belief that these five principles form a sound basis for designing and evolving a tailormade Welsh way forward to create a policy framework and mechanisms which genuinely meets Wales’ seven wellbeing goals without risk.”
Both unions will be meeting with the Cabinet Secretary on Thursday (25 October) to develop more detailed plans.
