£2 million funding and new expert group to lead the next phase

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced new steps to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals, including £2 million in funding and the creation of a new expert group to guide future work.

The announcement follows the final review of the 2019–2024 AMR in Animals and the Environment Implementation Plan, Wales’ first coordinated approach to tackling resistance in the animal and environmental sectors.

A new Wales AMR Animal Health Group has been set up to provide expert advice and support the development of the next five-year plan. The new strategy – the Animal AMR Control Plan for Wales (2025–2029) – will be aligned with the UK National Action Plan and continue to follow a ‘One Health’ approach, linking public health, animal health and the environment.

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:
“To support our plans, I have awarded £2 million of funding to the Arwain DGC (Defnydd Gwrthfaicrobaidd Cyfrifol) consortium.
“Arwain have a proven track record in delivering effective controls. This new phase will allow us to continue positioning Wales as a world leader in tackling AMR and promoting the responsible use of antibiotics.
“This investment will support vital monitoring, training and engagement work, helping to make sure antibiotics remain effective for future generations.”

The funding will support phase three of the Arwain programme, which will include:

Continuing the Veterinary Prescribing Champions Network across 44 Welsh veterinary practices

Collecting antimicrobial usage data from at least 4,500 Welsh farms

On-farm sampling to monitor AMR in cattle and sheep

Creating a new AMR Academy to provide training for vets and farmers

Wales’ Chief Veterinary Officer, Richard Irvine, said the risks of antimicrobial resistance continue to grow: “The effects of AMR are disruptive and costly, not just for animal keepers and vets, but for wider society.
“Drug-resistant organisms pose direct risks to both animals and people, and can spread through the environment. That’s why our One Health approach is so important.”

The Welsh Government said tackling AMR is not something government can do alone, and urged vets and animal keepers to work together to help meet Wales’ targets on antimicrobial resistance.

A PEMBROKESHIRE solar farm scheme, which would provide power for nearly 3,300 homes, has been put on hold once again, after previously being deferred for a site visit.

In an application listed at Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee meeting of March 18, members were recommended to approve a scheme by Wessex Solar Energy (WSE Pembrokeshire Ltd) for a 9.99MW solar farm and associated works at Lower Nash Farm, near Pembroke Dock.

The proposed scheme would be spread over three fields, amounting to approximately 14 hectares with some 25,000 PV panels on site, some 120 metres from the national park.

The scheme was previously deferred from the February meeting so members could visit the site after concerns were raised about the loss of the most valuable agricultural land.

The development, some of it on Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural land, would provide approximately 3,296 households with renewable energy annually, members have previously heard.

A larger 22MW scheme covering 34.25ha was previously refused in 2021 due to the effect on BMV land.

Planning Policy Wales (PPW) requires that BMV agricultural land “should be conserved as a finite resource for the future with considerable weight given to protecting it from development,” adding: “Such land should only be developed if there is an overriding need for the scheme and either previously developed land or land in lower agricultural grades are unavailable.”

Welsh Government Soil Policy & Agricultural Land Use Planning Unit has objected to the latest scheme on BMV grounds, saying the return to agriculture as BMV agricultural land is “…seldom practicable”.

Four objections to the scheme were received, with local community council Cosheston raising concerns about the use of BMV land.

At the February meeting, agent Charlotte Peacock was questioned about the use of the BMV land by committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock, who said: “Farming and agriculture are fundamental to the security of this country; the way that the population is increasing we really need to ensure farmland is protected.”

The agent said the farmer landowner would receive a guaranteed income which would be more reliable than crop values, adding: “The greatest threat to future security is climate change, the single biggest threat to our output of crops.”

Local member Cllr Tessa Hodgson, as a public speaker, successfully called for a site visit before any decision was made saying it was “surely better to use poorer land and brownfield sites” for such developments,” adding: “Does the permanent loss of prime agricultural land outweigh the benefit of renewable energy?”

At the start of the March meeting, members were told the scheme had been temporarily withdrawn due to issue with the publicity of an environmental statement accompanying the application; the proposal expected to now be considered at the April meeting.

A RECENT survey of Welsh farms participating in the Breeding Bird Survey has revealed encouraging signs for several bird species of conservation concern. The 2024 survey, a collaboration between Farming Connect and RSPB Cymru conducted between April and July, identified 49 different bird species across farms in the Farming Connect Our Farms Network, with an average of 29 species recorded per farm.

The project linked volunteers with farmers to monitor and survey farmland birds, providing valuable data to enhance farmers’ understanding of biodiversity on their land. The findings contribute to UK-wide biodiversity monitoring and highlight the role of farmland in supporting wildlife.

Notably, eight species identified in the survey are classified as farmland birds of conservation concern in the UK: House Martin, House Sparrow, Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Partridge, Mistle Thrush, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, and Cuckoo. Their presence underscores the importance of agricultural landscapes in maintaining biodiversity across Wales.

The reports offer insights into species distribution and abundance, helping farmers adapt their practices to safeguard these birds and encourage greater biodiversity. The data will also contribute to broader research on wildlife populations within agricultural settings.

“With approximately 90% of Wales consisting of farmland, farming practices play a crucial role in the future of many UK wildlife species,” said Lynfa Davies, Farming Connect Biodiversity Officer.

“The results of this survey are encouraging and demonstrate the positive impact that can be achieved through collaborative efforts between farmers and volunteers. We hope this information will inspire farmers to provide additional habitats as they engage with the new Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales.”

The Volunteer Monitoring Farmland Wildlife (VMFW) Project Team at RSPB Cymru emphasised the significance of such surveys for both farmers and conservation organisations.

“It is a crucial time for farmers to understand the state of biodiversity in their landscape, as both farms and wildlife face challenges from climate change and evolving agricultural practices. Wildlife surveys empower farmers by providing knowledge of species presence, reasons for their presence, and how they can be encouraged to thrive.”

“Surveys also help projects such as VMFW assess what resources are needed to inspire and inform farmers about taking action for wildlife.”

For more information about the breeding bird survey and other services available through Farming Connect, visit businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect.