The Friday 24 January meeting was held near Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, where host farmer Llŷr Jones (better known to many as Llŷr ‘Derwydd’) produces lamb, beef and free-range eggs.
Considerable upheaval
Reflecting on the journey the sector had been on the last year, NFU Cymru County Chair Mr David Williams said: “The last 12 months have been a time of some considerable upheaval which began and ended with shows of strength and solidarity from a farming community which has felt under attack in recent times, be that the SFS proposals and the poignant display of 5,500 wellies on the steps of the Senedd, to the London mass lobby in opposition to the family farm tax.”
Mr Williams also raised the 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, with Mr Williams making particular reference to the ‘farming-by-calendar’ approach. He said: “We farm on the basis of the weather and ground conditions, not a date on a calendar. We need to move away from this farming-by-calendar approach by making use of new technology where possible; a root and branch review of the record keeping requirements and a thorough review of the current planning and regulatory regime that is a significant barrier to those looking to invest in new infrastructure on farm. The statutory review which is currently underway must be used as the opportunity to deliver a more proportionate and achievable set of regulations that addresses water quality where it is shown to be needed.”
Wellies display at the Senedd
Llŷr Jones, who was instrumental in organising the display of wellingtons on the Senedd steps in March 2024, said: “I was really pleased to be so closely involved with the display of wellies on the Senedd steps. There can be no doubt that it made a very strong visual impact with politicians and the public alike, and I like to think it played its part in changing some minds. I’m also really pleased that the thousands of pairs of wellies we gathered together from across Wales have now been put to good use by farmers in Nakuru, Kenya.”
Local concerns
NFU Cymru members present also used the opportunity of the meeting with Mr Millar to raise some issues of local concern, including the recent consultation on designating a new national park in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley. The worries of NFU Cymru members included the ability of local infrastructure to cope with increased visitor numbers, as well as the additional bureaucracy and red-tape for those farming within the proposed new national park.
Mr Williams concluded: “I’m grateful to Darren for joining us today at Derwydd and to Llŷr for hosting. It’s been useful to have this exchange of views with Darren and I am sure he has also learnt a bit more about some of the issues we are facing as a sector. As leader of the opposition at the Senedd, I very much hope that he and his team in the Welsh Conservatives will continue with the important work of scrutinising the work of the Welsh Government to help ensure we have the best possible policies in place to support the agricultural sector.”