Brecon and Radnor farmers’ views on CAP proposals

The need to increase global food production by at least 70 per cent in the next 40 years has become widely accepted, but Brecon and Radnor NFU Cymru members see the current CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) proposals as not allowing farmers to increase production from land in Wales, which is capable of producing more.

Brecon and Radnor farmers were addressed by Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru President, at the Union’s recent local AGM on the impact the CAP proposals could have on Welsh farmers post 2013.

Gwyn Price, NFU Cymru Brecon and Radnor County Chairman said, ’The greening element of the proposals, in particular, have to be given very careful consideration. The proposals in their current form would have an impact on food production in this country ’ particularly on those farms trying to be more self-sufficient by growing their own cereal/root crops to feed livestock.

’These farmers could find themselves in a position whereby they will have to start growing three crops in order to meet the requirements of the new CAP regime. Practically this would be a nightmare when these farmers are just trying to use land more efficiently in an attempt to reduce their input costs.’

NFU Cymru members present voiced their opinions on the proposals and the impact such stringent measures will have on the future generation entering the industry. Concerns were raised that complicated and complex prescriptions were not the way forward for an already over-burdened industry in terms of bureaucracy and red-tape.

Ed Bailey said, ’It is absolutely vital that there is a future for our families to keep young farmers within the industry. This is why the negotiations and lobbying which will take place in the coming months are so important. We need to get a successful, profitable agricultural sector in order to encourage young farmers into the industry. I fully appreciate that we must be mindful of the environment ’ but this cannot be at the expense of food production.’

The county AGM also saw Glasnant Morgan, a beef and sheep farmer from Talybont-on- Usk, near Brecon, elected as NFU Cymru Brecon and Radnor County Chairman for the next two years.