“The total EU budget has been cut, and we have to accept that, however, we do not want to see the Welsh Government setting a Pillar transfer rate which would see Welsh farmers disadvantaged compared to their competitors in the rest of Europe,” that was the message from NFU Cymru members in Pembrokeshire recently when they met Wales’ Labour MEP, Derek Vaughan.
With the meeting coming on the day that the allocation of the CAP budget amongst England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland was announced, there was plenty to talk about.
NFU Cymru members were pleased to see the allocation of funds amongst the UK’s home nations remain as they were in the last budgetary period. This allows the Welsh Government to take further decisions on the CAP, knowing clearly what resources will be available over the next seven years.
Concerns were however expressed over the potential for the transfer of funds out of Pillar 1 (direct payments to farmers) into Pillar 2 (rural development activities), and the fact that if the Welsh Government made full use of this provision, then the competitiveness of Welsh farmers could be seriously undermined.
Pembrokeshire NFU Cymru County Chairman, Mansel Raymond said, “I have urged Mr Vaughan to use the influence he has with the Welsh Government Minister to ensure that such Pillar transfers do not happen.”
The recent news on the lifting of the import ban on British beef to the United States, introduced in light of concerns over the BSE crisis, was also discussed at the meeting which took place at Little Hasguard Farm, Hasguard Cross, near Haverfordwest and was kindly hosted by dairy farmer, Simon Richards and his wife Alison.
Mr Raymond said, “Whilst I very much welcome the good news that exports of beef to the US are expected to resume next year after the US market closed to EU beef 15 years ago, what Welsh farmers also now need is an equivalent rule change on TSEs in sheep and goats. It is important that this can be agreed as soon as possible to ensure that exports can open up for PGI Welsh Lamb.”
Also discussed at the meeting were concerns about the future availability of plant protection products, many of which have been removed from the European market in recent years. Speaking at the meeting Perkin Evans, Chairman of NFU Cymru’s Combinable Crops and Horticulture Working Group said, “Due to the way in which Europe conducts its hazard analysis, a number of important plant protection chemicals have been lost in recent years. We’ve already seen restrictions applied to neonicotinoid seed treatments, I’m afraid that without plant protection products to control pests and diseases, yields are going to fall.
“I am particularly concerned that the loss of some chemicals will make the management of mycotoxins that much more difficult. As farmers we have a good record for managing the risk of crop contaminants, and keeping them out of the supply chain, but the Commission is not making our lives any easier when the tools used elsewhere are denied to us here.”
Raymond concluded, “I am most grateful to Mr Vaughan for coming out to meet with us, we’ve had a good discussion on a number of issues, and I hope that he will be able to take some of the messages that have emerged from the meeting, with him to Brussels.”
