The meeting, held on Monday 24 October, heard from NFU Cymru Policy Adviser Dafydd Jarrett about the background to avian influenza and an update on its spread in the UK, including incidents in Anglesey and close to the Wales/England border.
Disease outbreak
During the meeting Dafydd Jarrett explained that while avian influenza is usually a winter disease, this year’s breakdowns have occurred throughout the summer - which has heightened concerns. He stressed that the disease poses a significant threat to poultry businesses due to the cost implications of recovering from a breakdown.
He urged all those in attendance to adopt the mantra of ‘prevention is better than the cure’, highlighting the enhanced biosecurity measures that are now in place for all bird keepers, as well as the additional requirements for those keeping more than 500 birds.
Water resources regulations
NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader then informed members about an important development in the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations, namely that a short extension of the implementation of the 170kg/ha annual holding nitrogen limit had been announced by Welsh Government. This extension will be accompanied by a consultation on a licensing scheme that would enable any farm business to apply for a licence for a higher annual holding nitrogen limit of 250kg/ha subject to crop need and other legal considerations.
Sustainable Farming Scheme
Abi Reader also gave members an update on the publishing of Welsh Government’s outline proposals for the Sustainable Farming Scheme. Abi Reader underlined the need for this new framework to deliver for farmers and food production, alongside the environment.
Members at the meeting highlighted that support should be directed to the active farmer taking the business risks associated with food production. Abi Reader encouraged members to engage with the co-design process by feeding in their views to NFU Cymru to ensure the industry’s voice is heard.
NRW regulatory fees and charges
Another hot topic raised as part of the meeting was members’ consternation at the eye-watering increases to Natural Resources Wales’ (NRW) regulatory fees and charges. The meeting was told that these planned hikes included a proposed 10-fold increase in the cost of new applications to £3,728 for land spreading of spent or unused sheep dip. Again, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said that the union was doing all it could to scrutinise the proposals and implored members to contribute their views to the consultation before its 6th January 2023 closing date.
NFU Cymru Montgomeryshire County Chairman Richard Jones said: “I’d like to thank our Deputy President, Abi Reader, not only for attending our county meeting, but also for accompanying me on local visits to Welshpool Livestock Market, the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Welshpool office, as well as John and Hilary Corfield’s Ackley Farm. Abi was also able to provide members at our county meeting with an update of NFU Cymru’s lobbying on a number of issues. It is certainly good to know that we have committed, passionate and professional officeholders and staff representing our interests.
“We’re also very grateful to Dafydd Jarrett for attending the meeting and providing us with a very sobering, but nevertheless entirely necessary, update on the spread of avian influenza. I’d echo the message from the meeting that we all have a role to play in keeping this disease at bay as best we can. Practising high levels of biosecurity, no matter how big or small your flock is, will help to not only keep your farm safe, but other farms, too.”
