NFU Cymru is urging farmers to make their voices heard by responding to the Welsh Government’s Brexit consultation, with the deadline now just under a month away.
Farmers have until the 30th October to contribute to Welsh Government's 'Brexit and our Land' consultation on the future of Welsh farming.
It is seen as the most significant and important Welsh Government consultation on the future of the agricultural industry for a generation.
The consultation provides the opportunity for the industry to make its voice heard and to shape Welsh Government thinking.
NFU Cymru said it is "vital" that the industry gets the message across that food production is at the heart of everything farmers do.
NFU Cymru President, John Davies said: “NFU Cymru’s vision for a future Welsh agricultural policy is built firmly on three cornerstones: productivity, volatility and the environment.
“Although this consultation considers in detail productivity measures and environment measures, it appears to suggest that volatility measures are not required.
“The case for maintaining stability measures as a strong element of any future agricultural policy has, in fact, never been more compelling if we are to ensure the continued supply of safe, quality, affordable food," Mr Davies added.
New schemes
The Welsh Government has already proposed new schemes which will replace Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Glastir and other parts of the Rural Development Programme after the UK leaves the EU.
The programme will consist of the Economic Resilience Scheme, which will provide investment to farmers and their supply chains to increase competitiveness and make improvements in food productivity.
The second fund, the Public Goods Scheme, will provide a new income stream to farmers delivering public goods from the land.
According to the Welsh government, the current BPS is "insufficiently targeted" to respond to challenges as it is solely an income support scheme.
But some in the industry have attacked the Government's new thinking, with the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) calling the proposals as having "huge potential flaws".
Both FUW and NFU Cymru are concerned that the new proposals will hamper farmers' ability to produce food due to the end of direct payments and coupled with severe weather, trade wars and increasing protectionist polices.
