Glamorgan farmers receive Cross Compliance advice

Welsh Government officials gave Glamorgan farmers information on the latest changes to cross compliance measures during the recent NFU Cymru county meeting.

Those local farmers present were reminded of the requirement for all land owners to update soil assessment books annually and those subject to agri-environment agreements should ensure that Resource Management Plans are completed regularly.

Cattle movement reporting and identification were also discussed. NFU Cymru members were reminded to report cattle movements within three calendar days and deaths with seven calendar days to the British Cattle Movement Service.

The introduction of the new single page cattle passport has also boosted the use of electronic reporting at BCMS with many farmers without internet access now using the new cattle tracing telephone self – service system.

Andrew Oliver, NFU Cymru Glamorgan Chairman said, "It is important that farmers ensure these reporting deadlines are met – and to reiterate, these deadlines relate to calendar days and not working days. The amount of red-tape and bureaucracy involved within any sector of the agricultural industry has increased significantly and we hope that the newly formed Welsh Government ’working smarter’ group can see areas where the administrative burden on farmers can be reduced and that the focus for farmers can once again return to food production."