An £8.8million compensation package from the Welsh Assembly Government is to be made available to sheep farmers in Wales to deal with the effects of the foot-and mouth-disease outbreak in England.
It takes the total support provided by the Assembly to almost £13million, including the autumn light lamb welfare disposal scheme and £1million provided to promote sales of Welsh lamb and beef.
Announcing the additional package yesterday (Wednesday, February 20) Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, said there was no doubt the farming industry in Wales had suffered as a consequence of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in England.
"While the Welsh Assembly Government will continue to press the UK Government to provide additional support for farming across Great Britain, I am pleased to announce an additional compensation package of £8.8 million.
"The funding will be made available under the FMD Compensation Scheme, with £8.7 million being made available as an area-based payment to sheep producers in the less favoured areas of Wales.
"In addition, £100,000 will be made available to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution as a recognition of the extremely valuable work it has carried out in financially supporting Welsh farming families as a direct result of last year's outbreak," the Minister said.
"I will announce further details on the level area payment and release of payments to sheep producers as soon as we have received clearance from the European Commission, which is necessary under state aid rules."
Both farming unions in Wales welcomed the additional funding – but with reservations.
NFU Cymru said the money fell far short of reality and there was no justification why lowland farmers had been left out. They, too, had suffered.
The Farmers Union of Wales said the £13million did not even cover the Assembly's own estimate of losses and would be pressing for further funding.
Describing the package as 'an insult', Shadow Rural Affairs Minister, Brynle Williams, said: "It is a total disgrace and farmers across Wales will have every right to feel bitterly betrayed."
