Bovine TB, livestock movement rules and the Wales Rural Development Plan (RDP) were the three key issues raised by NFU Cymru President, Stephen James, when he welcomed Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Rebecca Evans, on to his dairy farm in Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire earlier this week.
Speaking after the meeting Mr James said, “It was a pleasure to show the Deputy Minister around the farm to highlight the challenges and the opportunities that I see as a farmer and to show the investment and commitments that we are making to secure the future of our family farm.
“Farming in a TB hotspot area continues to be the biggest threat to my business, at every TB test we just live in hope that we have a clear test. Until we have a strategy in Wales that effectively deals with the reservoir of diseased wildlife roaming our countryside we feel helpless as a business in being able to get on top of this disease.
“Cattle controls are an important element of a TB strategy but they must be complemented by measures to remove infected wildlife. In a country such as ours that relies so heavily on extensive grass based production systems we just can’t keep badgers and cattle apart.”
The ending of TB Pre-Movement Testing Exemptions later this month will further increase cattle controls and Stephen James highlighted the need for Welsh Government to agree to the introduction of approved Quarantine Units on farm.
He said, “The introduction of Quarantine Units is vital to allow farmers to be able to trade without compromising disease control. We are concerned at the delay in introducing these units and have asked that the Deputy Minister considers this issue as a matter of urgency.”
On the Wales RDP Mr James was keen to highlight how NFU Cymru believes the resource available within the RDP can be used to maximum benefit on farms the length and breadth of Wales.
Stephen James said, “Our priority is for the RDP to deliver real benefits back to farming businesses, ensuring that all farmers are given the opportunity to access resource from the RDP providing the on farm investment needed to help their businesses adapt to significant reductions in Pillar 1 support.”
In conclusion Stephen James said, “I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Minister and with her willingness to listen to our concerns as an industry. I hope that moving forward we can work together and agree on a policies and strategies to deliver a productive and profitable farming sector in Wales.”
