Abi who is a third-generation mixed farmer focussed on dairying, took the opportunity during the meeting with Plaid Cymru’s leader and Plaid Cymru’s rural affairs spokesperson to discuss a number of issues currently facing the farming sector.

Water Quality Regulations

One of the main issues up for discussion were Welsh Government’s water quality regulations and how concerns previously expressed by NFU Cymru in relation to the new rules are being borne out on farms across Wales, in particular the ‘farming by calendar’ approach. She said: “With the statutory review due to report by the end of next month, I very much hope it will be the opportunity to deliver a more proportionate and achievable set of regulations that address water quality where it is shown to be needed. This includes not only the ‘farming by calendar’ approach (through perhaps making use of new technology), to a root and branch review of the current record keeping requirements and a thorough review of the current planning and regulatory regime.”

Sustainable Farming Scheme

The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) was also high on the agenda, with Welsh Government having published its updated proposals for the SFS at the end of 2024, and NFU Cymru having run a series of roadshow events to gather member views during December.

Ms Reader said: “A lot of progress has been made on the SFS, but there is still a long way to go on scheme detail and crucially payment rates, but whether farmers decide to participate or not will depend on the financial attractiveness of the scheme. There has to be sufficient budget which must find its way down to farmers, and this is particularly so when it comes to the Universal layer of the scheme, this is the element which provides stability, and it must be well resourced. 

“There must be a willingness on the part of Welsh Government to amend the scheme if assessment shows certain sectors or areas stand to be impacted adversely disproportionately.  I would also ask Welsh Government to look again at their decision not let hedges count towards the 10% habitat requirement.”

Future funding

Abi Reader also took the opportunity to discuss with Rhun and Llyr, the new basis upon which future changes to agricultural support funding from Westminster to Cardiff will be calculated. She said: “The UK Government has stated that future funding uplifts to agricultural support funding from the Treasury to Wales will be calculated using the Barnett formula, rather than by use of the historic allocation. The historic allocation was fairer as it took account of the relative levels of agricultural production amongst the UK home nations. As a result of the UK Government’s decision to use the Barnett formula, any funding increases coming to Wales will be quite a bit less than they would otherwise be, and we reject the idea that the population-based Barnett formula can be used to make adjustments to the levels of agricultural support funding.”

TB on farm

Ms Reader also related her own first-hand experience of TB on farm, including the challenges of getting the disease out of the herd and stopping it getting back in.  She said: “Farmers abide by strict rules and protocols to keep disease out, but we still have hundreds of farm businesses under bTB restrictions and a deteriorating picture with a record 12,278 cattle slaughtered in the 12 months to September 2024.  That’s why we continue to urge Welsh Government to look at the science and to address the disease wherever it is found otherwise we fear that we will never be able to get on top of it.”

She added: “I am really pleased to have been able to welcome Rhun and Llyr out to farm, Welsh agriculture is going through a particularly challenging uncertain time at the moment and so I was really pleased to be able to give Rhun and Llyr a look around the farm and to talk through some of the issues with them. With their key roles as part of the opposition at the Senedd, I very much hope that they and their colleagues will continue with the important work of scrutinising the work of Welsh Government in order to help ensure we have the right policies in place to support the sector.”