Environment agency Wales needs farm liaison officers

In view of the success of Farm Liaison Officers in the Welsh Assembly Government, NFU Cymru has approached the Environment Agency in Wales to suggest it appoint people into a similar role.

"Being the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in Wales it makes total sense for the Environment Agency to have officers to liaise between the Agency, farmers and land owners," said Bernard Llewellyn, the Rural Affairs Board Chairman for NFU Cymru at a recent meeting.

Mr Llewellyn added, "The Welsh Assembly Farm Liaison Officers are highly valued individuals who have forged close relationships with the farming community."

Currently the Environment Agency has staff that deal with the farming industry, but NFU Cymru members feel that these staff tend to be more specialised e.g. catchment officers covering one river or staff specifically dealing with Agriculture Waste Regulations.

Mr Llewellyn said, "The Environment Agency must see the potential and significant benefits for themselves and farmers in appointing such people. As a Union we urge them to take our recommendation on board, so that they can strengthen their working relationships with farmers, land owners and other agricultural allied businesses throughout Wales. Education is far better than regulation in our view."

Mr Llewellyn concluded, "NFU Cymru would hope that these liaison officers would be geographically dispatched throughout Wales, providing advice and guidance to farmers on environmental and business matters through the medium of Welsh and English."