Brecon and Radnor farmers welcome increased levels of support for upland farmers

At a recent meeting of NFU Cymru's Brecon & Radnor Branch members welcomed an announcement by the Welsh Assembly Government that Tir Mynydd payments would this year be raised.

NFU Cymru's Brecon & Radnor Branch welcomed the Assembly's announcement that Tir Mynydd payments [less favoured area support] would be paid two weeks sooner than last year, and that the rates of payment under Element 1 of the Scheme would be increased by £3 hectare for both severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged land. Elements 1 and 2 would also be combined into a single payment rather than being paid separately.

The Chairmen of NFU Cymru's Brecon & Radnor Branch, John Davies, said: "Hill and upland farmers in Brecon & Radnor were deeply disappointed that there had not been a fundamental review of the Tir Mynydd Scheme before the loss of the 'safety net' this year, which was designed to mitigate the impact on those hill and upland farmers who had lost support as a consequence from the shift away from livestock headage support in favour of area payments. However, farmers would welcome the increase in the value of hectarage payments which had been pegged in recent years. The combined Element 1 and Element 2 payment would also assist cash-flow for farming businesses in the LFA."

He went on to say that: "Members of NFU Cymru in Brecon & Radnor looked forward around Easter time to receiving a consultation paper from the Welsh Assembly Government, when members would be keen to see what could be done to assist those farmers who had seen a significant proportion of their hill farm support withdrawn in recent years.

"Tir Mynydd support which was designed to compensate for the hardship of farming in severely disadvantaged areas was vital to the viability of hill and upland farmers in Brecon & Radnor."