MEMBER of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Samuel Kurtz, today (Oct 23) called on the Welsh Labour Government to acknowledge their failures in developing the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

The SFS, intended to replace the Common Agricultural Policy following the UK’s departure from the EU, has encountered significant challenges. These range from its widespread unpopularity among farmers—due to the enforced tree-planting on productive farmland—to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the funding levels that farmers can expect.

Speaking after the debate, Samuel Kurtz said: “It was the responsibility of everyone in the Chamber who cares about farming and rural communities to forcefully highlight the inadequacy of the SFS in its current form.

“The Welsh Labour Government should be ashamed of their failure to engage properly with farmers. It should never have taken thousands of farmers descending on Cardiff Bay, nor the symbolic placement of wellington boots on the steps of the Senedd, to make the Government finally stop and listen. Speaking at that event was one of the proudest moments of my life, but it should never have been allowed to get that bad that farmers felt compelled to protest.

“The Welsh Government must now act swiftly to address these issues. Farmers need clear answers to plan for their future, their livelihoods, and their communities. If the SFS is not developed and implemented correctly, farming across Wales will be put at risk.”

Also this week, James Evans MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Rural Affairs Minister, said: “The farming community has expressed disappointment that their concerns around Labour’s Sustainable Farming Scheme are being ignored despite multiple consultations.

“Additionally, the deeply unpopular 10% tree cover requirement risks losing valuable farmland. Yet, despite legitimate concerns, Labour presses on.

“The Welsh Conservatives support a farming model that rewards good practices, offers fair incentives, and includes farmers in decision-making. Labour’s Rural Affairs Minister claims to be listening to the community, yet no evidence of this has materialised, he is simply paying lip service to our farmers.”

DEWI THOMAS, Dyfrig Thomas, and Eirlys Thomas, operators of Cildywyll Farm in Llanddowror, Carmarthen, have been prosecuted for severe breaches of animal welfare laws. This follows a previous conviction on 24 February 2023, when Eirlys and Dewi Thomas were prosecuted for unnecessary suffering of livestock, while Dyfrig Thomas received a formal caution.

The latest case originated from a May 2023 investigation by the Animal Health Department, in collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Dyfed-Powys Police, after anonymous complaints about the condition of animals on the farm.

On 31 May 2023, Animal Health Officers, a vet from APHA, and a Dyfed-Powys Police officer inspected Cildywyll Farm. They discovered severe neglect, including dogs and puppies roaming freely with no control over breeding, livestock living among carcasses, and severely ill cattle and pigs. One cow had an untreated swollen eye, while several dogs, including a Cocker Spaniel with protruding ribs, were found in hazardous conditions, feeding on rotting carcasses without proper food, water, or shelter.

SHOCKING CONDITIONS

In a barn, inspectors found decomposing carcasses alongside living animals, highlighting the lack of adequate care. The Thomas family, responsible for the farm’s operations, had not sought veterinary care for many of the animals, including unvaccinated puppies and animals with untreated illnesses.

As a result, the Thomas family received improvement notices and was required to address the immediate welfare needs of their animals. Pigs, dogs, and puppies were removed from the premises on welfare grounds. However, subsequent inspections revealed ongoing non-compliance, with further neglected animals found, including sheep with untreated injuries from a dog attack and discrepancies in farm records related to livestock deaths and movements.

Between February and September 2023, 144 bovine deaths were recorded at the farm, with 32 unaccounted for, raising further concerns about livestock management.

SENTENCING AND PENALTIES

During court proceedings, Judge DJ Layton stated: “History shows over the past years the family has neglected animals from pigs to dogs to sheep.”

He added: “This is a situation that resulted in the grandmother and father having a suspended sentence order, which is as close to prison as you can get, and Dyfrig Thomas got a caution, presumably due to his age, then as soon as the order was made, the situation continued, with dogs exposed to hazards and not having suitable beds, a sow wasn’t given water – a fundamental, basic need, puppies and adult dogs eating animal carcasses, pigs eating carcasses… It’s shocking.”

Dewi Thomas was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and was banned from keeping livestock for 5 years. Eirlys Thomas received a 12-month community order and a 5-year ban on keeping animals, while Dyfrig Thomas received a 6-month community order and a 2-year ban. The trio were ordered to pay £19,275.10 in costs, and livestock was confiscated under section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act.

ANIMAL WELFARE PRIORITY

As part of the legal action, multiple animals were removed from the farm and placed with local rescue services. The case underscores the Animal Health Department’s commitment to prosecuting animal cruelty and neglect.

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, said: “This case demonstrates the seriousness with which we take animal welfare violations. The conditions uncovered at Cildywyll Farm were truly shocking, and we are committed to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. Animal welfare is a key priority for us, and we will continue to work to prevent suffering and protect the wellbeing of livestock across Carmarthenshire.”

Carmarthenshire County Council emphasizes that its Animal Health Officers are available to support farmers in need. For assistance, contact the Animal Health Team at 01267 234567 or email [email protected].

THE SENEDD narrowly rejected calls to temporarily halt the sale of council-owned farms amid concerns they are disappearing at an alarming rate due to financial constraints.

James Evans led the debate calling on the Welsh Government to impose a Wales-wide temporary ban on the sale of council-owned farms.

He said: “These farms are not just pieces of land, they’re the lifeblood of rural communities. For generations, they have provided opportunities for our young farmers….

“But now, these farms are being sold off at an alarming rate. And the consequences can be devastating, not just for farming, but the way of life in our rural countryside.”

The Conservative said council-owned farms offer young people who are “locked out” of the agricultural sector a chance to get on the farming ladder through affordable tenancies.

“Without them, we risk shutting the door on the next generation,” he warned.

Mr Evans pointed to 2023 statistics showing there are 972 council-owned farms, covering 21,000 hectares – “a huge proportion of our farms across Wales”.

Calling for a moratorium, the shadow rural affairs secretary said: “We need to pause. We need to take a breath and fully assess the long-term impacts of these sales.

“It’s about giving ourselves time to develop a proper, sustainable strategy for the future of farming in Wales.”

Mr Evans, who represents Brecon and Radnorshire, said many of the farms are in Welsh-speaking communities as he raised concerns about risks to the language.

He told the Senedd: “I urge this Welsh Government to act with urgency. We cannot sit back and watch as our council farms disappear one by one.”

Backing the motion, his Plaid Cymru counterpart Llŷr Gruffydd said all parties need to hold their hands up about the issue becoming a “political football”.

He said: “The biggest irony, maybe, is that much of this is being driven as a result of Conservative-led austerity, which has put – [interruption] no, no, no – that’s the irony of the situation but I will desist from making that point.

“Look, they have been left with no other option, many of these councils.”

Mr Gruffydd, who has been calling for a national summit on the future of council farms since 2016, urged the Welsh Government to grasp the nettle.

He said: “Ultimately, yes, the responsibility rests with local authorities but the government can’t wash its hands of the problem.

“These farms are a national asset and there’s a pressing need for leadership.”

Responding to the debate on October 16, Huw Irranca-Davies said council farms are important assets offering an invaluable route into agriculture for young people.

Wales’ rural affairs secretary told the Senedd the 2023 Agriculture Act does not give ministers powers of control over councils to sell land.

Mr Irranca-Davies, who is also deputy first minister in the Welsh Government, said: “The sale of land and decisions about how they approach it is for local authorities.”

He added: “We do not have a statutory basis to intervene in the sell-off of land, so the call for a moratorium is misplaced.”

Senedd members voted 25-22 against the Conservative motion. The motion as amended by the Welsh Government was agreed 25-13 with nine abstaining.