Respond to important consultation
HUW Davies has asked me to step in this week and update you on what’s been happening within NFU Cymru. It’s been an extremely busy few weeks with the Brexit and Our Land consultation roadshows, as well as county meetings.
I am sure a lot of you have taken our many reminders to respond to the consultation on board already, but for those of you who haven’t, here’s another reminder.
This consultation is so important for the farming industry in Wales. The fact that Welsh Government want to take direct payments away from farmers, when we don’t know what will happen to our main market when we leave the European Union next March, is very concerning.
I cannot stress enough just how important responding to this consultation is. It is the most important consultation of a generation, and will affect many generations to come.
It also concerns me that environmental groups such as the WWF, RSPB and Wildlife Trusts Wales are making claims on their websites and social media channels that infer farming practices are harming the environment.
This simply isn’t true and when I go out on to farms to meet members throughout Carmarthenshire, I see farms that are bursting with wildlife and birds.
I cannot urge you all enough to respond to the consultation. It isn’t just farmers that will be affected by the proposals; it will also be the rural businesses and communities that rely on farmers for business and employment. So please go to the NFU Cymru website and fill in the response form. It will take you 10 minutes and will help shape the future of the agricultural industry.
If you are unsure of how to respond, or would like some assistance with completing the form, please get in touch by telephone the office on 01982 554200 and I will come out and meet with you and we can go through it together.
Finally, the Welsh Dairy Show takes place on October 30 at the United Counties Showground, Nantyci. NFU Cymru will of course have a stand and we will be crowing our Wales Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award Winner during the day. Please come along and say hello.