Why farming matters in the General Election

Following confirmation that the UK general election will be held on 6 May, NFU Cymru President, Ed Bailey, has announced that the Union will kick-off its general election manifesto next week with a message to prospective candidates - that any incoming government must put productive agriculture at the centre of its political agenda.

Ed Bailey will launch the Union’s general election manifesto on-farm in Ceredigion and he will explain to prospective candidates that if they are elected then they must help the agricultural industry to fulfil its potential in meeting the major future challenges we all face including food security and climate change.

Representatives from Wales’ main political parties have been invited to attend, and give a short presentation, at NFU Cymru’s manifesto launch, on Friday, 16 April 2010.

Ed Bailey said, "Whilst the majority of farming issues are now determined by devolved Government there are still some important aspects determined by Westminster. With a general election due and the possibility that we could be facing a very different political landscape, this is our opportunity to set out the actions we would like an incoming Westminster Government to take to allow the industry to respond and change and continue to provide solutions for the nation."

NFU Cymru President, Ed Bailey, will launch the Union’s general election campaign on the mid-Wales dairy farm, Tynlofft, of John Davies. John and his wife Mair have a herd of 200 cows on their 100 acre dairy farm, which has been in Mair’s family for many generations and they sell their milk to Glanbia.

The reasons why farming matters more than ever in terms of food production, the environment and the economy are set out in the NFU’s Manifesto for the forthcoming General Election.