Montgomeryshire farmers angered by assembly reform proposals

NFU Cymru members in Montgomeryshire have delivered a clear message to the Welsh Assembly Government - if you cut or reduce Tir Mynydd scheme payments, you will be putting upland farming in jeopardy and running the risk of destabilising the rural economy even further.

At a recent NFU Cymru county meeting in Newtown, farmers unanimously rejected the options put forward by the Welsh Assembly Government to reduce payments or suspend the Tir Mynydd scheme. The proposed changes to the scheme would result in hill and upland farmers in Wales receiving little or no support for farming Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) from 2007 onwards.

NFU Cymru's Montgomeryshire County Chairman, Michael Jones said, "The Welsh Assembly's proposals could be devastating for LFA farmers in Wales. The consultation sets out two equally unfavourable options, which will both have a hugely detrimental effect on farming and rural communities."

John Vaughan, a farmer from Llanerfyl and the representative from Montgomeryshire to NFU Cymru's LFA Board said, "The proposed changes to the Tir Mynydd scheme will

reduce LFA farmers' net incomes, which will result in farmers with smaller holdings being driven out of the industry. This will lead to the amalgamation of smaller farms, a reduction in spending within the rural economy and ultimately, the deterioration in the upland landscape across Wales.

"NFU Cymru members in Montgomeryshire have rejected the two options proposed by the Welsh Assembly Government. If the Assembly pushes ahead with their proposals then they will be seen to be walking away from their responsibility to the people and communities of Wales' hill and upland areas," added John Vaughan.

NFU Cymru is currently consulting all its members across Wales on the Tir Mynydd proposals. The consultation responses have to be with the Welsh Assembly Government by 10th March.