Local News for the Vale

Welsh Farmers' Protest: Thousands gather at the Senedd over sustainability plans

By Gareth Rees | Updated Wednesday 28th February 2024 6:47pm |  Follow us @broradio

Thousands of farmers gathered outside the Senedd in protest over Welsh government plans which they say will devastate the industry. 

Protests have been taking place over the past few weeks over the sustainable farming scheme which farmers claim will result in 5,500 job losses.

There were predicted to be 10 to 15,000 people attending, with estimates suggesting 5,000 were in Cardiff Bay – making it one of the biggest protests the Senedd has ever seen.

Speakers including Welsh politicians and former rugby referee turned farmer Nigel Owens addressed the crowds after music played over speakers, with farmers young and old carrying homemade signs.

Neath sheep and beef farmer and protest organiser Liam Price said: “We only have a small farm so if you take 10% of that, it would mean our forage for the animals would go. It is not viable.”

Under Welsh Government proposals being put forward in the sustainable farming scheme, set to be implemented from 2025, farms would need to dedicate 10% of their land to tree planting and another 10% to wildlife habitats to qualify for payments. The Welsh Government says the measures are needed to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

Modelling on the potential economic effects of the sustainable farming scheme published alongside the Welsh Government's own consultation has suggested reduction in farm business income of up to £199 million.

Farmers are also voicing concern about the impact of TB on their farms and food prices. The Welsh Government say it is consulting with farmers and will make changes.

Nigel Owens said: “Without farmers there is no food. There can be no six nations games if there is no referee. There can be no food on the table if there is no farmers.”

The sustainable farming scheme will be the subject of a debate in the Senedd. Tabled by the Welsh Conservatives, it calls on the Welsh Government to “scrap the current sustainable farming scheme proposals and to re-engage with the farming sector to develop a new scheme that has the support of the farming community” and ditch the requirement for each farm to have 10% of its land as tree cover.

Labour, the ruling party, has tabled an amendment on the motion saying it “supports further amendments” and criticises the UK Government for removing “certainty from farm funding”. There is also a second, Plaid Cymru, motion which will be debated about bovine TB which calls on the Welsh Government to make immediate changes to the current policy.

“There is no Wales without rural Wales. I see you all here today, people who have made the long journey from my neck of the woods, Ynys Mon, and friends from across Wales, I see the determination,” said Rhun ap Iorwerth, the Plaid Cymru leader.

In a statement released on Monday, February 27, the Welsh Government said it would set up a technical advisory group about bovine TB and it will commit to looking at the current on-farm slaughter policy “as a matter of urgency”. It says: “Regulations are needed to protect the environment from poor practice, which is causing considerable damage to the reputation of the sector.” So in respect of water regulations the statement said £20m was being made available to “help farmers comply with the requirements”.

“We are now putting in place the arrangements for the first statutory review of the effectiveness of the regulations. We will consult on the suitability of the alternative measures proposals received from the sector. We also intend to appoint an independent external chair to oversee the process.”

In respect of the sustainable farm scheme, it says it will carry out an updated economic analysis and “ensure farm payments are distributed fairly”. The statement also says the incoming first minister, who will take up post on March 20, “will want to carefully review the results of the consultation and consider in detail the pace of implementation of SFS”.

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