Calls for urgent reconsideration

THE UK TRESASURY has been accused of dismissing serious concerns over proposed changes to Inheritance Tax, following a meeting with the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) President Ian Rickman and other UK farming unions on Tuesday (Feb 18).

FUW President Ian Rickman expressed deep disappointment at what he described as a “dismissive response” from the Treasury, despite clear warnings about the potential economic, emotional, and cultural devastation the changes could inflict on Welsh family farms and rural communities.

“Together with other UK farming unions, we clearly outlined the risks these changes pose to the future of domestic food production and the viability of farms across Wales,” said Mr Rickman. “We also expressed our willingness to collaborate with the government and industry stakeholders to address the flaws in this ill-thought-out policy.”

However, Mr Rickman said the arguments had “fallen on deaf ears,” raising serious concerns about the Treasury’s figures. He highlighted the sharp rise in land prices, coupled with historically low farm profits, making it increasingly difficult for family farms to afford the expected Inheritance Tax bills.

“Given the financial pressures already facing Welsh agriculture, these tax changes would be unaffordable for a significant proportion of family farms,” he added. “We remain gravely concerned about the impact and will continue to liaise with our membership on the best way forward.”

The FUW has vowed to keep pressing for changes to the policy, warning that failure to act could have lasting consequences for Welsh farming and the rural economy.

Following reports that the Treasury meeting with farming groups this morning led to no resolution, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: “Labour is throwing Welsh farmers to the wolves, completely disregarding the importance of farming communities to our economy and environment.

“Their family farm tax could be the final nail in the coffin for many communities struggling to cope. It will worsen rural depopulation and damage the Welsh language, in addition to the serious impact on the economy.

“Labour must end their ideological war on the countryside, the Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect rural communities across Wales.”

A DAIRY farmer managing a chronic bovine TB breakdown has eliminated a major disease threat to his herd by no longer buying in cattle.

Michael Williams is one of 15 farmers involved in the Pembrokeshire TB pilot, a Welsh Government initiative which aims to develop additional measures for bovine TB control, over and above the statutory actions currently being used.

Sharing his progress with other farmers at a recent Farming Connect event, Mr Williams said there is much that every farmer can do to protect their herds from TB.

He has introduced multiple biosecurity measures, including running a closed herd.

He milks 150 cows on a robot milking system at Fagwrfran East, Puncheston, and had sourced cattle from livestock markets but this came with the risk of importing TB.

“We had already stopped buying in cattle before becoming part of this project but we have since become a truly closed herd, we don’t even buy a stock bull,’’ Mr Williams explained.

Cameras were installed to establish if badgers were coming into contact with cattle in the yard and housing and with food and water sources.

None were detected but there were obvious physical signs of activity in fields and on cow tracks.

One and a half miles of badger-proof fencing has since been erected along a hedge with a high number of setts and latrines, to separate these from the stock.

Mr Williams has introduced other measures too:

Creating a remote fallen stock area

The fallen stock collection point had been situated on a part of the farm which compelled a vehicle to cross the yard to collect carcasses.

This facility is now located in a contained area of a building that sits closest to the road and can be completely sealed off from wildlife.

Erecting electric fencing along the maize clamp

Although the farm has no feed bins vulnerable to wildlife, its open maize clamp is a potential risk at feeding out.

Mr Williams erected a simple deterrent, filling two redundant 20-litre dairy chemical drums with sand, placing these at each end of the clamp face and running polywire from one to the other, hooked up to a solar-powered energiser.

“This cost about £20, took ten minutes of my time and prevents badgers from interfering with the feed,’’ he said.

Restricting visitor numbers

Unplanned visits by sales representatives and others are now discouraged.

Visits are by appointment only and a sign has been placed at the farm entrance advising of this policy.

Vehicles coming onto the farm must be clean.

Draining unused water troughs

In-field drinking water troughs that are not used in the winter when the herd and youngstock are housed are drained and remain empty until turnout.

Water troughs in use are cleaned weekly.

Reducing reliance on farm contractors

Investment has been made in slurry application equipment to remove the need for hiring contractors for this job.

Keeping cattle accommodation walkways clean

The frequency that feed passages in the cattle housing are cleaned has increased to minimise the period that slurry pools in these locations.

Adopting the highest level of hygiene at calving 

Matting similar to cubicle bed mattresses has been laid in a dedicated calving pen to allow the floor to be thoroughly pressure washed and disinfected between calvings.

Providing footwear disinfection points

Containers of disinfectant solution are positioned around the yard to allow footwear to be disinfected in between contact with different classes of stock

Increasing intervals between slurry application and silage harvesting

Although Mr Williams operates a multi-cut silage system, he has increased cutting intervals from four weeks to five and applies slurry to the aftermath at the very earliest opportunity, the day after the grass has been collected from the field.

Other measures

In addition to rolling out biosecurity measures, Mr Williams has been culling animals which have been identified as at high risk of contracting or spreading TB, flagged up on a ‘risk rating’ list through an app developed for the Pembrokeshire TB pilot.

Any cow in the two highest risk categories – in this case red or amber – is sold as barren.

“Being more proactive with culling, choosing when an animal leaves the farm rather than being in a forced situation as a result of a TB test, is a better option in many ways,’’ said Mr Williams.

If an animal falls into a ‘yellow’ band, the lowest of the three risk categories, but is nonetheless a risk, she is bred to a terminal sire to ensure that no female replacements enter the herd.

In 2024, 35 of Mr Williams’ cows exited the herd based on risk rating results.

“There is short term pain in getting on top of the residual disease but I am confident that we will reap the rewards a few years down the line,’’ he maintains.

“If we can get down to two or three per cent risk rating, we will be in the realms of being on top of the disease rather than the disease being on top of the herd.’’

He believes this system is working.

“In December 2024 the risk rating was 7% compared to 11% in January 2024 so this is a start, we think culling is working.’’

Mr Williams also emphasised the importance of making time to discuss biosecurity and disease risks with the farm vet.

“Don’t do this while the vet is TB testing or on the farm for another reason, set aside a dedicated time to have a proper discussion,’’ he advised.

He credits his vet, Rhiannon Lewis, of Gwaun Vets, with supporting him through this process. “We have worked together on this,’’ he said.

PANEL

The Farming Connect event was hosted by Rhys Lougher at Ty Tanglwyst, a dairy farm near Pyle.

Mr Lougher’s 120-cow herd of pedigree Holsteins has been free of TB for many years.

He too has high levels of biosecurity and benefits from his farm being largely remote from cattle on other holdings and protected by hard boundaries including roads and limestone quarries.

Only sexed semen is used for breeding and no cattle have been bought in for 40 years.

Mr Lougher has his own slurry tanker and muck spreader to avoid use of contractors.

“A big part of our business is selling high health status, freshly calved, pedigree Holstein heifers to other dairy farms, the wish to continue to do this is our main driver for wanting to keep TB out of our farm,’’ he said.

A CEREDIGION farmer’s call to convert a derelict building last occupied in the 1930s as a downsizing home on land he has farmed all his life has been put on hold while planners visit the site.

At the February meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s development management committee, members were recommended to refuse an application by Mr and Mrs I and A Evans, of Fronlwyd, Llangrannog to erect a dwelling, agricultural shed and associated works on the site of the nearby abandoned dwelling at Fronlwyd/Pen-yr-Allt, just over a mile from Llangrannog, which was last occupied in 1936.

It was recommended for refusal on grounds including it was “unjustified new housing in open countryside”.

Giving an impassioned plea to be allowed to build the bungalow, Mr Evans, who warned he was “not a big fan of public speaking,” said: “I have farmed the land all my life, I live in a five-bed house, just me and the wife, we’re getting older.

“We want to build a bungalow just so we can future-proof as we get older; I don’t want to leave the land I’ve farmed all my life, I like being out in the fresh air and listening to the birds and the animals.”

He said there was more of the ruined building present when he was a child, the building declining after “years of not being looked after”.

He told members he wanted the site to go back to “what I remember as a kid”, adding: “In the olden days they knew how to build houses, it’s in a little dip and only visible from one direction, it’s ideally situated.

“I would look after the land and me and my wife in our old age; I just want to satay there, that’s where I’ve lived all my life, and I want to stay there.”

A site inspection panel visit before any decision was made was proposed by Cllr Gareth Lloyd, with Cllr Maldwyn Lewis saying: “In my mind heritage is important for Ceredigion, the backbone of the fabric of the community.”

Members unanimously backed a site inspection panel viewing of the application, the application returning to a future meeting.