On March 7, NFU Cymru submitted its response to Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme - 'Keeping Farmers Farming' consultation. This consultation will shape the future of Welsh farming for generations to come and the union's response sets out the framework for future farming policy for Wales. It measures Welsh Government’s proposals against NFU Cymru and in the response, the union highlights the legitimate concerns raised by its members as part of this consultation process and provide a pathway for a way forward.
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: "We must get this scheme right. Neither farming families nor government can afford to have a scheme that fails to deliver on our shared ambitions for food, nature and climate. We need a scheme that underpins food production, our farmed environment, our communities, our language and culture for our generation and those that follow in our footsteps. We want to work with the Minister and Welsh Government to get this right – we must get this right."
Record responses
Over the course of the 12-week consultation period, NFU Cymru engaged with over 5,000 farmers and supply chain partners at roadshows, county meetings, board meetings, market visits and other events, highlighting the strength of feeling within the membership and wider industry of just how important this consultation and its outcome is. Through its online portal, the union received a record amount of responses, with over 6,700 members responding.
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones added: “We’ve received an unprecedented response to this consultation and the overwhelming strength of feeling from our members is a clear indicator that the current proposals need a major overhaul. The proposals must move beyond a scheme focussed predominately on the delivery of environmental outcomes and instead become a genuine agricultural policy that underpins food production, resilient agricultural businesses and rural communities, alongside and in harmony with our environmental obligations and ambitions."
Consultation response summary
As part of it's response, the NFU Cymru Policy team took on board the views and comments received by members, meaning the final response document was almost 100 pages long. They have also produced a 12 page summary document, which members can read here.