Monmouthshire farmers ask for assistance for an already crippled beef industry

"It's essential that the European Commission does all it can to get the Date Based Export Scheme lifted as soon as possible in order to help an already crippled beef industry," said NFU Cymru's Vice Chairman in Monmouthshire, Owen Tamplin, at the recent county meeting where the guest speaker was Hybu Cig Cymru's Industry Development Manager Prys Morgan.

Mr Morgan spoke to local farmers about the current problem of low commodity prices and the work being done by Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) to try and alleviate the difficulties. He also told local NFU Cymru members that there were ready-made markets in Europe for Welsh beef and it is essential that the Date Based Export Scheme (DBES) is lifted in order for these markets to be realised.

Mr Morgan said, "Under the new payment regime there should be a two fold approach. Farmers should focus on the market place and secondly focus on the individual enterprise. I would urge all farmers to benchmark their enterprise and see where costs can be cut and better meet market requirements." Mr Morgan went on to highlight research that had been carried out by HCC which highlighted the huge differences that the top third of producers achieve compared with the rest in terms of costs and physical output.

The other main topic of discussion was the proposed revisions to sheep identification and the new movement requirements put forward recently by the Welsh Assembly Government. Glyn Williams, a delegate on the NFU Cymru Livestock Board told the meeting, "We have deep reservations and concerns at these proposals because in their present format they lack clarity, are totally impractical and unworkable for the Welsh farmer."

Mr Williams went on to inform members that NFU Cymru has written to Carwyn Jones AM, the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, to ask for an urgent meeting on the issue so the impracticalities of the proposals could be explained to him first hand.