Farming
Ceredigion Preseli MP hopefuls quizzed on farming
AHEAD of the July 4 general election, Ceredigion Preseli general election hopefuls have outlined what they will do the support farming and the countryside.
As part of constituency changes, bits of north Pembrokeshire – including St Davids and– are joining the new Mid and South Pembrokeshire constituency.
Other parts of the north of the county are now in the new Ceredigion Preseli constituency; which extends up past Aberystwyth and also includes Cilgerran, Crymych, St Dogmaels, Fishguard and Llanrhian.
There’s now a 15-candidate battle for the two seats, eight in Mid and South Pembrokeshire and seven in Ceredigion Preseli.
With a July 4 date set for the general election, candidates for the new Ceredigion Preseli seat are: Ben Lake for Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrat Mark Williams, Welsh Labour’s Jackie Jones, Conservative Aled Thomas, Tomos Barlow for the Green Party, Karl Robert Pollard for Reform UK, and Taghrid Al-Mawed for the Workers Party of Britain.
In the run-up to the election, all candidates were asked: “The seat is quite rural in nature; what will you do to help farming and the countryside?”
Plaid Cymru candidate Ben Lake said: “Farming plays an extremely important role in both the economic and social fabric of our rural communities.
“At a time of growing global instability, it is more important than ever that the strategic importance of farming’s contribution to our food security is recognised, safeguarded, and promoted by Government.
“I would ensure that domestic producers are not undermined by any new international trade deals between the UK Government and countries such as Australia and New Zealand and I would fight for fairer regulation of the grocery supply chain, so that farmers and producers are treated fairly by the large food retailers who dominate the UK food system.
“I will continue to work with farmers, farming unions and my colleagues in the Senedd to ensure that our family farms are not put at any risk.”
Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Williams said: “Farming is critical to the economies of Ceredigion and Preseli. While much of the farming agenda is devolved, much isn’t.
“The hastily drawn up Australia and New Zealand trade agreements must be renegotiated in line with our own health, environmental and animal welfare standards. We need to strengthen the Grocery Code Adjudicator to protect consumers from unfair price rises and to support farmers.
“At the time of Brexit, farmers were told there would be no loss of financial resources for the farming sector and yet estimates suggest that Wales has been short-changed by £250m. We urgently need that funding.
“Welsh Labour have paused their dangerous SFS. We must ensure that the worst aspects of it do not return, and the industry supported, not threatened.”
Gren Party candidate Tomos Barlow said: “I recognise the hard work that farmers do to put food on our plates, but we also recognise agricultures contribution to the environment as the greatest driver in nature loss and pollution in rivers.
“To tackle this, we want to triple financial support (through the increasing funding to the Senedd) to farmers not only to make farming more job secure but also to help the transition to nature-friendly farming.
“I’d also look for ways to encourage apprenticeship schemes to encourage more young people to enter the agricultural sector.”
Workers Party candidate Taghrid Al-Mawed said: “Workers Party sees farmers as vital to our country, they are the backbone of society, without them, we starve… No farmers, no food.
“We want to ensure our nation is more self-sufficient and less reliant on food imports. Food from local farms going into local shops reduces the food miles and stops the farce of seeing things like New Zealand lamb on the shelves of Welsh supermarkets.
“Farmers are not just there for a photo opportunity with the local MP at the local mart, they need proper support from a government that puts them and their survival first, not corporate profits.”
Jackie Jones, Labour candidate said: “Our rural communities are a cornerstone of this constituency. They must be protected and nurtured. Labour has a plan for our rural communities: food security is a top priority and farmers are vital.
“I will help to build on our successful agricultural cooperatives – doubling their size to provide small family farmers opportunities to work together. This will create the environment for greater resilience to stand up to large supermarket pricing, providing solutions to agricultural supply, dairy, crop and horticulture.
“Labour will provide business support for start-ups, financial support for FE colleges and innovation in practice as well as transport, good housing, broadband and relieving poverty.”
Conservative candidate Aled Thomas said: “On rural issues this election is personal to me. I run my family farm with my brother and my dad and know first-hand the challenges that farmers face, and how badly they have been let down by the Welsh Government.
“As a young farmer and agronomist, I will use my extensive experience of the countryside to be a strong rural voice in parliament and fight for a brighter future for the future of the agricultural industry.
“Farmers are the best custodians of nature and wildlife there are, and I hope I can use my voice to enhance this further.”
All candidates were contacted.
Farming
Willhome Farm Barn attraction plans expected to be refused
A Pembrokeshire farm barn attraction previously refused by planning officers, which has gained a 3,500-strong petition of support and a call for it to be decided by councillors rather than officers, is recommended to be refused by next week’s planning committee.
Late last year, Stuart Williams of Home Farm, Leweston, near Camrose, was refused retrospective permission by planning officers to retain the Willhome Farm Barn farm park – and ancillary buildings – built in June 2022.
The site – whose facilities were used by council educational providers and parents of children with learning difficulties – is home to rabbits, llamas, donkeys, poultry, owls, goats, ponies and pigs, along with a café building, public conveniences, a children’s play area, and parking.
It was refused due to highway safety concerns and fears it would generate additional foul water flows which are likely to result in an increase in phosphate levels in the Cleddau River.
Since the refusal by planners, a change.org petition, Grant Planning Permission for Willhome Farm Barn in Pembrokeshire, was set up by Hook-based Jessica Austin, which has attracted more than 3,500 signatures to date.
Jessica’s petition said: “This decision not only affects this resilient family but also impacts schools attended with over 6,000 pupils, by adults from local wellbeing centres and families with children who have autism or learning difficulties like mine.
“It’s important to note that there are no apparent issues with existing amenities. Roads or waterways. The refusal of planning permission seems unjustified and is causing unnecessary distress within our community.”
At the request of local county councillor, and former council leader, Cllr Jamie Adams, a special meeting was held in July to discuss whether a decision could be made by councillors rather than officers.
Despite a recommendation it be decided by officers, members unanimously agreed to remove delegated powers for approval or refusal, on the grounds it was complex and sensitive and would benefit from a public examination of the merits, following a call by Cllr John Cole, meaning the application would be heard at a future planning committee.
The application is now recommended for refusal by councillors when it comes before Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee on October 8.
Reasons given for refusal include those given for the previous application.
A report for members states: “The agent has submitted in support of the application a Planning Support Statement, dated March 2023, which states that the applicant lost his milking/dairy herd to bovine tuberculosis in 2022 and subsequently opened the farm park attraction. During school term times there are 10 county council educational groups visiting on a regular basis, with a further six county council educational providers on a waiting list.
“By July 2023 there were already 6,000 pupils booked in. No details have been provided regarding weekend and school holiday activity, but it is understood that the park has been open to visitors during these times.”
One third party representation has been received objecting to the development on highway grounds, adverse impact on biodiversity, and the precedent which the development would set, the report says.
Farming
EU farming subsidies fall short of green deal goals, says European Court
THE European Court of Auditors (ECA) has criticised the European Union’s agricultural subsidy scheme, finding a “noticeable gap” between current farming incentives and the EU’s overall environmental targets. This review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), published on Monday, revealed significant shortcomings in aligning farming practices with the EU Green Deal’s climate objectives.
The CAP, periodically revised and most recently updated in 2021 after the introduction of the EU Green Deal, allocates a massive €378.5 billion (£328 billion) for the 2021-2027 period. This budget accounts for nearly a third of the EU’s total expenditure, making it a key tool in the EU’s fight against climate change. Agriculture is responsible for 13% of the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions, with more than half of these emissions attributed to livestock.
However, the ECA report found that the European Commission currently lacks the capacity to measure the contribution of agriculture to its climate targets, aside from organic farming. The lack of consistent metrics and incentives within the CAP has made it impossible to track progress toward the Green Deal’s 2030 targets effectively.
“Our examination of the Commission’s assessment of how the member state plans are aligned with the 2030 Green Deal targets reveals that the Commission cannot – except for organic farming – measure the extent of their contribution, and so cannot check whether they align with targets,” the ECA concluded.
The ECA also noted that some climate-friendly funding rules within the CAP had been watered down following farmer protests earlier this year. This dilution of policy has further hindered the CAP’s ability to drive meaningful environmental change across the agricultural sector.
Additionally, the ECA highlighted that the EU’s climate goals have not been fully integrated into CAP legislation. Important result indicators are either missing or vary too significantly between member states due to differing definitions and measurement methods, making it difficult to gauge any real progress.
In response to these issues, the EU’s ombudsman launched an inquiry this month into whether the European Commission breached its own rules by altering CAP funding terms. This action followed a complaint by environmental activist group ClientEarth and others. ClientEarth is also pursuing legal action against Germany for failing to enforce EU pesticide regulations.
The ECA’s findings add pressure on the European Commission to overhaul the CAP to ensure it can effectively contribute to the EU’s climate goals, emphasising the need for more robust and standardised monitoring mechanisms across member states. With agriculture being a crucial sector in the EU’s climate strategy, this report underscores the urgent need for policy reforms that align farming practices with the bloc’s green ambitions.
Farming
Wales ‘falling behind’ on farm tenant policy, warns Tenant Farmers Association
WALES is falling behind England in the development of farm tenant policy due to a post-Brexit decision by former Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford not to expand the capacity of the civil service, according to the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA).
George Dunn, Chief Executive of the TFA, has highlighted that several key measures, including the tenant and landlord code of practice, the Farm Tenancy Forum, and the proposed tenant farming commissioner, have all been implemented in England but not in Wales. He urged the Welsh Government to outline a plan for fulfilling its devolved responsibilities in this area.
“The problem Welsh Government has got is capacity,” said Mr Dunn. “They would say in their hearts they are keen to do more, but practically speaking, without proper resource, they are going to struggle. The real issue is that the previous First Minister, Mark Drakeford, didn’t take the opportunity to ramp up the capacity of the Welsh Government in light of the Brexit vote.”
He further pointed out that while the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in England increased its staff to cope with post-Brexit changes, the Welsh Government “almost carried on as if Brexit never happened.” This decision has now left Wales lagging in farm tenancy reforms. “This goes back further than the current budget crisis, but that of course won’t help,” added Mr Dunn.
In response to these concerns, last week the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, addressed a series of written questions from Plaid Cymru MS Llyr Gruffydd regarding whether the Welsh Government was considering introducing a code of practice and a tenant farming commissioner.
Mr Irranca-Davies stated that while the government had considered the recommendations, they have so far focused on areas identified as priorities by stakeholders, such as new dispute resolution procedures for farm business tenancies. He also mentioned that Welsh Government officials are currently assessing the relevance and potential impact of the remaining recommendations within a Welsh context.
This lack of progress in Wales contrasts sharply with developments in England, where the establishment of a tenant farming commissioner and other policies have been prioritised post-Brexit. The situation has raised concerns among tenant farmers in Wales, who fear they are being left behind in policy support compared to their English counterparts.
The TFA’s call for action underscores the need for the Welsh Government to address the gaps in farm tenancy policy, particularly in light of the changes brought about by Brexit. As farming stakeholders wait for concrete steps, the debate continues over how best to secure the future of tenant farmers in Wales amidst growing economic and policy challenges.
-
News4 days ago
Three workers hospitalised in incident at Valero Oil Refinery, Pembroke
-
Crime4 days ago
Tenby businessman jailed for sustained and merciless attack on ex-partner
-
News5 days ago
Adverse weather in Pembrokeshire leads to road closures and school shutdown
-
Community2 days ago
Portfield Fair is back with a bang as mayors check out rides
-
Crime2 days ago
Police raid cannabis grow at former Woolworths building in Pembroke Dock
-
News9 hours ago
Nurse sacked after paying £23k for job at Pembrokeshire care home
-
Crime2 days ago
Caldey Island monk suspended amid investigation over explicit photos
-
Business17 hours ago
Safety concerns raised over proposed new Milford Haven Lidl store