The Government should fight the corner for British agriculture and not put it at a financial disadvantage with other European food producers, NFU President Peter Kendall told farmers in north Wales.
Mr Kendall, guest speaker at the annual meeting of NFU Cymru Clwyd branch, said global markets were distorted by the different standards around the world and that British farming’s ability to compete must not be undermined by additional costs and red tape being imposed on it.
Mr Kendall said, ’My message to Government is: ’do not undermine UK agriculture PLC’. The Government must make sure that the money from Europe is not frittered away, especially as it helps us in improving our technology and to become more efficient and effective food producers. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposals as they stand will restrict rather than help to produce more food to feed a population that’s forecast to increase from 62 million today to 70 million by 2026.
’At this time, the Single Farm Payment is probably the most effective risk management tool for farming and allows us to invest in the future. My concern is that, with the pending CAP reform, the increased number of environmental regulations will have adverse economic and production ramifications for farming.
’It’s conceivable that in the future there will be less support for farmers but we need to ensure the current pressure on the European Commission’s budget will not have a detrimental effect on our farm business.’
Mr Kendall added, ’We need to work with Government to make sure our business is viable going forward. At the same time, we as farmers must collectively make the case for food and farming and impress on Government and public alike that our industry is the most important economic sector in the UK, employing 3.6 million people and with a turnover of ’80 billion.
We must fight to reduce regulation and improve the industry’s opportunity to thrive.’
Ed Bailey, President of NFU Cymru, echoed Mr Kendall’s words and added that issues such as the CAP proposals on ’greening’, including those for permanent pasture, taking land out of production and restrictions on crop rotation, would have a seriously detrimental effect on Welsh farmers’ ability to produce food.
Mr Bailey said, ’We must take positive steps to redress the balance where CAP and the greening measures are concerned and there has to be recognition of the progress that has already been made in Wales as a consequence of the industry’s involvement in agri-environment schemes.’
