Young farmers's vision vital for farming future

THIS year is already a week old, and I'd like to wish you all a happy and successful new year. We've now turned our backs on 2007 which was an extremely difficult year for the agricultural industry. I know we all hope that a new year will bring new opportunities and more stability and better economic circumstances so that our rural life can prosper again.

There was good news before Christmas. While we continue to feel the effects of the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease and bluetongue I was pleased the ban on live exports was finally lifted. I also welcomed the announcement of a bluetongue vector-free period before Christmas which now allows animals to be moved, subject to very strict conditions, from the Bluetongue Restriction Zone. This will be particularly welcome for farmers who have animals in the zone in England and need to return them to Wales. I would like to emphasise the importance of following the requirements to the letter with regards to testing of animals prior to movement. We all need to play our part in protecting Wales from introduction of infectious disease.

The situation is far from being back to normal and our chief veterinary surgeon made clear that the length of this vector-free movement period is not certain, but may last until spring. 2008 will have its own challenges and the continuing effects of bluetongue will be a large part of that. As part of the Assembly Government's efforts to protect Welsh livestock from bluetongue, I decided a few weeks ago to advance-book bluetongue vaccine for possible use by Welsh farmers in 2008 and 2009.

Early in the new year I will be consulting on immediate and longer term arrangements to encourage and sustain new entrants to the industry. This will also seek views on a financial support package following the budget announcement last November that £2m will be available from 2010. Young farmers are the future of the industry and we need their commitment and vision to sustain a Welsh farming future.