Tir Myndydd budget cuts - short term folly, long term disaster
The slopes of Rhobell Fawr provided the backdrop for an Assembly Members visit arranged by NFU Cymru last week. Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas AM and Lisa Francis AM visited NFU Cymru Meirionnydd County officials at the farm of NFU Cymru member Huw Alun Evans, Hengwrt, Rhydymain, Dolgellau to discuss the vital importance of the Tir Mynydd scheme.
Addressing both AMs, Huw Alun Evans said, “The maintenance of the current Tir Mynydd payment is vital to my business. Rhobell Fawr may be a beautiful mountain in terms of its landscape, situated as it is within the Snowdonia National Park, but soil and climate dictate that it can only be grazed for 6 months each year. This means that my replacement ewe lambs have to be away wintered at a cost of £17/head. Tir Mynydd payments are vital to ensure that this proven, environmentally important farming system can continue.”
Richard Evans, NFU Cymru’s County Chairman for Meirionnydd said, “The fact that the vegetation on this mountain, which like many others in Wales is so valued in conservation, wildlife and landscape terms is in its present condition, is solely due to sensitive sheep grazing at the right levels and at the right time of year.
“Any further reduction in hill farm profitability will result in a rethink in tried and trusted traditional systems, which can only spell long term disaster for conservation. The knock-on effect will result in a reduction in turnover for supply businesses and a further reduction in labour availability in these areas, as young people seek better paid employment elsewhere. This can only be to the detriment of the Welsh language and culture.”
It belies belief that with 100% of the agricultural land in Meirionnydd classified as Less Favoured Area the Assembly Government is considering reducing its support for these hill farms. Other governments in the UK and Europe continue to recognise the importance of farming in these areas through their continued support for dedicated LFA schemes at current funding levels.
NFU Cymru Vice President Edmund Bailey who farms in Meirionnydd and was present at the meeting said, “It is misleading for the Assembly Government to talk about average payments of £3,500 per farm when in reality, those who rely solely upon farming for their income receive a significantly higher payment than this.
“Losing one third of the payment in 2007 and a further 40% in 2008 will have a significant and damaging effect on farm businesses. Collectively, in an area such as Meirionnydd, the proposed cuts in the Tir Mynydd budget will result in a figure of millions of pounds being lost to the rural economy – an economy that is already extremely fragile.”
Both AMs accepted NFU Cymru members’ arguments about the importance of an adequately funded and dedicated Less Favoured Area scheme in Wales. They promised to do everything they can to persuade the Minister and the Government to maintain the Tir Mynydd budget at its current level for 2007 and 2008 and show commitment to a dedicated successor scheme.
