Farming
Glyphosate crisis continues
THOUGH THE EU Commission has announced that it will be attempting to secure an 18 month relicensing approval for glyphosate – the world’s most widely used herbicide which is currently mired in controversy over its possible health impacts – member state ministers who rejected previous licensing proposals from the Commission have stuck to their guns ahead of a planned vote.
Responding to the Commission’s proposed temporary relicensing – pending the findings of a report the EU executive has commissioned from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – French environment minister Segolene Royal said France will not change its mind on glyphosate and will not vote in support of the Commission’s proposal.
Germany’s environment ministry has also confirmed on Twitter that it won’t alter its stance next week. Due to the different positions on glyphosate held by Germany’s environment and agriculture departments (controlled by two different political parties making up the country’s coalition government), officials have said Germany will abstain in any glyphosate vote.
COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS ‘UNACCEPTABLE’
Ministers from Sweden, Italy Portugal and Austria have all expressed opposition to the Commission’s past proposals, backing the published opinion of the World Health Organisation’s cancer research arm IARC on glyphosate; last year, IARC classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, though a subsequent review by EU health watchdog EFSA reached the opposite conclusion, sparking a spat between high ranking scientists from the two agencies.
On Wednesday, Green MEPs in the European Parliament reacted to EFSA’s proposal to make scientific papers which influenced its decision on glyphosate – but were not available to IARC, which operates to strict transparency guidelines – available in a private reading room, which was set up to use for viewing sensitive documents relating to TTIP (the trade deal being brokered between the EU and United States) and tax.
EFSA’s suggestion was made in response to a freedom of information request submitted by four MEPs. The Greens’ spokesperson on the issue, MEP Heidi Hautala, commented: “this culture of radically limited transparency, whereby MEPs can only access a secret room without their phones, laptops and sometimes even pens or paper, should only be applied in extreme cases, and should not be used in response to public access to documents requests”.
The current approval period for glyphosate is set to expire at the end of June. In April, the European Parliament voted to approve a shorter relicensing of glyphosate, but with heavy restrictions on its use – including bans on use in public parks, restricting sales to professionals only and preventing pre-harvest use of glyphosate as a desiccant.
In its latest, temporary proposal the Commission recommends minimising these practices, but does not commit to an outright ban.
NO BACKING DOWN
Commenting on the temporary renewal plan on Wednesday, EU Greens’ environment and food safety spokesperson Bart Staes stated: “This proposal for a ‘technical extension’ has to be seen as the Commission backing down, after its failure to bulldoze through the re-approval of glyphosate following heavy industry lobbying.
“While it means an eleventh hour reprieve for glyphosate, this is hopefully only temporary and this should be the beginning of the end for this toxic product.”
The NFU has revealed that its vice president Guy Smith has met with EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, who tabled the Commission proposal on Wednesday.
Speaking after a second vote on glyphosate was delayed last month, Mr Smith said: “I am nothing short of exasperated as to why this key herbicide cannot simply and quickly be given the reauthorisation that has been recommended by EFSA – the appropriate EU scientific body.
“Some member states in the committee are prevaricating and wasting time when they could be taking decisions based on scientific evidence. Glyphosate is a pesticide which allows farmers to combat weeds while supporting cultivation methods that can preserve good soil structure. There is no sense behind this delay.”
SHOULD HAVE BEEN BANNED ALREADY
Green MEP Bart Staes added, “The EU will now have to finalise its assessment of the health risks with glyphosate, both as regards it being a carcinogen and an endocrine disruptor. However, glyphosate’s devastating impact on biodiversity should have already led to its ban.
“The significant public mobilisation and political opposition to reapproving glyphosate has been taken seriously by key EU governments and the Commission has been sent back with its tail between its legs.”
He continued: “The whole controversy surrounding the re-approval of glyphosate has revitalised the debate about Europe’s agricultural model and the dependence on toxic substances in the current system.
“This is already starting to filter through the policy-making process, with the Dutch EU presidency having flagged up the debate this week. This opportunity now needs to be seized [in] fundamentally reorienting the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy towards a more sustainable agricultural model.”
FARMERS ASKED TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE
In an open letter to EU policymakers and officials on June 3, the NFU wrote: ‘The removal of such a tool carries the very real risk of yet another pressure on our incomes at a time when economic returns are already severely squeezed.
The arable sector will likely be hardest hit through any restrictions, with direct impacts on yields.
‘Loss of availability in the livestock and dairy sectors would result in an inability to tackle invasive and poisonous species in grassland and plant pests and diseases across all farm types.
These effects would directly hit farmers’ margins too. Europe would therefore be at a further disadvantage to other nations, who face no such restrictions, but who we are increasingly trading with.
‘Farmers are being asked the impossible. On one hand farmers are encouraged to improve and compete, yet we have tools that allow us to do so directly threatened with no like-for-like alternatives in place.’
Farming
Welsh Government could overturn Ceredigion cattle breeder’s house plans
A CEREDIGION councillor-backed scheme by one of the top breeders of Limousin cattle in the UK to build a home near Lampeter could be overturned following a call for it to be decided by Welsh Government, planners heard.
At the October meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s development management committee, the application, by Mr and Mrs Dylan Davies for a four-bedroom rural enterprise workers’ dwelling at Blaenffynnon, Llanwnnen, Lampeter, where they run a calving and cattle rearing business, was backed despite an officer recommendation for refusal.
One of the issues in the report for members was the financial test of whether the scheme was affordable, based on an estimate the building would cost some £292,000 to construct; at a 25-year mortgage amounting to £20,400 a year.
The size of the proposed building – which the applicants say include a need to entertain and occasionally accommodate clients – was also given as a reason for failing the TAN6 policy test, being larger than affordable housing guidance, at 202 square metres rather than a maximum of 136.
Members have previously heard the applicant breeds high-value show cattle for embryo transplanting at the well-established business, with one bull alone selling for £32,000 last year.
It had previously been recommended for refusal at the September meeting, but was deferred for a ‘cooling-off’ period to seek further details along with potential changes to the size of the scheme.
At the October meeting, members backed approval despite officers saying the size proposed could actually include a two-person bungalow in addition to the normal maximal ‘affordable’ size.
At the start of the November meeting, members heard a request for the scheme to be ‘called-in’ for Welsh Government final decision had been made, meaning Ceredigion planners’ approval could potentially be overturned if the ‘call-in’ is agreed.
Farming
Welsh Government pressed on impact of new farming tax
THE Welsh Government have been urged to clarify how many farms in Wales will be affected by the Family Farm Tax.
The calls come after farming unions rebuked claims from the UK Labour Government and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens that only a minority of farmers will be affected by the new inheritance tax rules.
The UK Labour Government has come under heavy criticism following the announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that farmers would have to pay a 20% tax on farms worth more than £1m.
When questioned on Sunday Politics about the potential impact of the new tax laws on Welsh Farmers, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens claimed that “Three quarters of farmers will be unaffected”.
The treasury has yet to publish an estimate around the impact that the new tax laws will have on Welsh farms.
Both the FUW and NFU Cymru have expressed their concerns at the changes made by the UK Government, stating that it will cause “lasting damage to Welsh farming.”
The Welsh Lib Dems have now called on the Welsh Government to clarify how many farms in Wales will be impacted by the new Family Farm Tax rules.
Party leader Jane Dodds MS has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies to express her concern over the “untold damage that farming communities throughout Wales will face as a consequence of the UK Government’s most recent budget”.
In the same letter, Jane Dodds MS pressed Mr Irranca-Davies to confirm how many Welsh farms will be affected by the new inheritance laws.
“We cannot afford to leave our farming communities in the dark when it comes to the impact of this potentially devasting new tax law” said Jane Dodds MS.
Both our farmers and the Welsh Public deserve to know the truth that lies behind Labour’s claims that only a small amount of farmers will be impacted by the Family Farm Tax. Claims that, I should add, have already been disputed by both NFU Cymru and the FUW.
The uncertainty surrounding these new inheritance laws will place more unnecessary pressure on farmers across Wales, many of whom are already struggling under a cloud of financial pressures.”
Farming
Pembrokeshire farmer’s award for outstanding service to Welsh dairy industry
DAIRY farmer, Stephen James, from Gelliolau farm in Clunderwen, Pemborkeshire has been presented the FUW Outstanding Service to the Welsh Dairy Industry award at the Welsh Dairy Show 2024 in Carmarthen.
Presenting Stephen with the award will be FUW President Ian Rickman during the Welsh Dairy Show held at the United Counties Showground in Nantyci, Carmarthen on Tuesday 22 October 2024.
Ian Rickman, FUW President said: “The judging panel were delighted with the nominations this year, but Stephen’s diligent and relentless work for over 20 years representing the industry in a public role on the issue of Bovine TB in particular placed him on top.
“A worthy winner, Stephen has used his own experience of dealing with TB on his own farm business, having been in and out of restrictions for over a quarter of a century, to highlight the main issues that affect Welsh farmers, publicly.”
Stephen is Chairman of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework a position he has held since July 2018. As Chairman, working closely with Wales’ Chief Veterinary Officer, Stephen works to make improvements in standards of animal health and welfare across Wales.
He has also been a leading figure in representing the concerns of Welsh farming to the Government. As an industry representative on the Welsh Government TB programme board, he has undertaken countless bilingual media interviews to local, national and international broadcasters. He highlights the impact the disease has on farming families and the need for the Welsh Government to implement a Comprehensive TB Eradication Strategy.
On winning the award, Stephen James said: “Receiving this award is a huge privilege. It was quite a shock to hear the news. I am extremely grateful to receive the award, especially at an event that is so close to my heart and is so important to the milk sector in Wales. Thank you so much for the honour.”
Stephen James has held a wide range of positions within NFU Cymru from Local Branch Chairman to President (2014 – 2018). He has worked on a number of significant policy areas including the Common Agricultural Policy Reform and Brexit, dairy issues and an influential figure during the trying times of the 2012 milk crisis. Stephen, alongside other UK farming union leaders, addressed the July 2012 dairy farmers Westminster Hall Rally.
Passionate about supporting the next generation of farmers, Stephen shared the responsibility for his farm business at Gelliolau to his son, Daniel, at a young age. He has been heavily involved with the Wales Young Farmers, both locally and nationally holding a number of positions including Pembrokeshire County Chairman, Pembrokeshire County President and Wales YFC Council member.
A long standing member of First Milk and a Director and past Chairman of Clynderwen and Cardiganshire Farmers, he truly believes in the values and principles of co-operative organisations.
He is former President of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, a President and active Board Member of Clunderwen Show Society, a past Chair of Clunderwen Community Council and member and past Chairman of Narberth Grassland Society. Stephen James is also a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
Ian Rickman concluded: “Stephen James has truly made an outstanding contribution to the Welsh Dairy Industry. We are delighted to present him with this FUW award in recognition of the years of work he has carried out on behalf of Welsh farmers. On behalf of the FUW, I congratulate and thank Stephen for his work.”
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