Don’t let history repeat itself, says NFU Cymru

The Welsh Assembly Government’s new framework for managing the Welsh environment, countryside and seas, ’A Living Wales’, launched in September, is worrying land owners and managers, says NFU Cymru.

Until recently the Welsh Assembly Government has looked at parts of the environment separately, but this consultation, out until the end of December, looks at combining all aspects of the environment, countryside and seas.

"Whilst I don’t want to underestimate the importance of this document it is vital that policy makers recognise that agriculture has and is still playing a key role in shaping and maintaining the state of the Welsh environment and the successes achieved so far should be celebrated," said NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board Chairman, Bernard Llewellyn

Farmers present at the recent Rural Affairs Board felt increasingly frustrated that the benefits of the work they currently do and have done for centuries, across all forms of farming, are not being recognised fully by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Mr Llewellyn continued, "In its ’Next Steps’ section the document highlights 12 principles to the ecosystems approach which are most concerning to land owners and managers and I fear that if these are not addressed, then we will see history repeat itself. If the principles aren’t acceptable to farmers, because the barriers have been set too high, then just like Glastir, the uptake will be poor and if the uptake is poor then no one will benefit."

"We all accept that there are still significant challenges ahead on which all sides – agriculture, conservation and Government – need to work together. The Welsh Assembly Government needs to broaden its horizon, farmers have a moral responsibility to produce food to feed a burgeoning population but I’m afraid for us to meet these challenges there needs to be a fairer balance between farmers and the environment without too much regulation and red-tape on our industry."