Welsh farming union NFU Cymru has highlighted priorities for Governments in Cardiff and Westminster to get the best possible deal for Welsh agriculture post-Brexit.
Speaking during a session titled 'A New and Dynamic Future for Welsh Farming' at the NFU Conference today (22 February), President Stephen James highlighted five key points for politicians to take into account when considering future policy and support for Welsh agriculture:
"1. Agriculture is important to the Welsh and UK economy, underpinning the biggest manufacturing sector in the country.
2. Securing food supplies in this very volatile world should be a strategic priority for Wales.
3. Farmers are responsible for the environmental management of 80% of the countryside.
4. Welsh farmers operate to some of the world’s highest standards.
5. The public supports Welsh food production and the role Welsh farmers play in Welsh society."
'We don't live in isolation'
Speaking during the early bird session, Stephen James said the Union has a vision for a policy that helps to deliver a 'productive, progressive and profitable' industry in Wales.
He said: “It is a policy that will allow us to play our part in delivering additional jobs, growth and investment to Wales.
“We don’t live in isolation - we need to be mindful of what is going on in the rest of the UK and the EU. That is why we support a UK policy and budgetary framework that ensures we do not create market distortion within the UK.
“A jointly agreed deal – not an imposed framework – between the four Governments in the UK would give us the assurance that we need whilst giving us some flexibility to recognise the unique characteristics of Welsh farming.
“We also want to ensure that we secure as much funding as possible from the Treasury for Welsh agriculture. We want funds within the UK distributed on the basis of the current CAP model as opposed to the Barnet Formula, which would see Wales lose out significantly.”
