Don't leave Welsh farmers in a Tir Mynydd consultation vacuum

NFU Cymru is calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to make an early announcement on the future of the Tir Mynydd scheme as farmers are currently being left in a consultation vacuum.

The call comes from the Union on behalf of the country's hill and upland farmers in advance of next Wednesday's meeting of the Welsh Assembly's Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee.

Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President said, "The uncertainty over the future of the Tir Mynydd scheme is and has been a major worry for the industry for many months now. Farmers are in desperate need for a period of stability and so we're calling on the Welsh Assembly Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, Carwyn Jones, to make an early announcement on the future of the scheme."

NFU Cymru has made many pleas to the Welsh Assembly to not abandon Wales' Less Favoured Area (LFA) farmers and has met with opposition parties to explain why Welsh farmers have said, very loudly and clearly 'NO' to the two options which have been proposed by the Assembly Government in the consultation paper looking at the future of the Tir Mynydd Scheme after 2006.

John Owen, NFU Cymru's LFA Board Chairman said, "Both the severely disadvantaged and disadvantaged areas of Wales continue to suffer hardship and permanent physical handicaps in terms of altitude, terrain, soil-type, aspect, slope, climate etc. These handicaps, we stress are permanent features and have become no easier to contend with. It is ironic that the consultation paper itself acknowledges that severely disadvantaged area farmers continue to face more difficult conditions of climate and terrain, which bring associated increases in cost!"

NFU Cymru has found widespread recognition of the need to preserve Tir Mynydd, with support for the scheme not only coming from the farming industry but also from the Countryside Council for Wales, the National Park Authorities, the Wales Tourist Board and the RSPB.

Representatives from NFU Cymru will be present at next Wednesday's [24 May 2006] Environment, Planning and Countryside meeting.