Farmers demand fair funding for Welsh agriculture from new Labour government

The Welsh Farmers Union is seeking at least £450 million a year of EU Common Agricultural Policy funding from the new UK Government to support food production and the rural economy.

The union said that after winning the general election at a time when Welsh farming is at a crossroads, Labour “now has an opportunity to influence the future of rural Wales for decades to come”.

Historical

Reacting to Labour’s victory, FUW president Ian Rickman said: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate the newly elected Prime Minister and his party on their historic general election victory and thank the MPs with whom we have worked closely over the last five years.

“This election brought significant changes to the political landscape in Wales, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of constituencies, boundary changes and now a new UK Labour government with a majority at Westminster.

“FUW is not affiliated to any political party and is therefore ready to engage and work with politicians from all parties to ensure the voices of Welsh farmers are heard.”

The FUW election manifesto, published ahead of Thursday’s vote, sets out the union’s key priorities in the new government, with a focus on securing fair, multi-year funding of at least £450 million a year in EU CAP funding for farming and rural development in Wales.

The paper said the importance of this support in supporting food production, the environment and rural communities in Wales could not be overstated.

Trade agreements

It also calls on the new government to ensure that any future deals with other countries and trading blocs are based on a much more robust approach that protects British farmers and food security. It also requires food imports and exports to be subject to the same customs and standards checks, ensuring a level playing field for UK and EU producers.

The Union Manifesto also calls on the UK Government to introduce a public procurement policy that prioritises public bodies’ support for Welsh and UK businesses and promotes a more transparent supply chain.

Mr Rickman added: “While the direction of farming in Wales largely depends on the development of devolved agricultural policy, we must not forget that the decisions made by the new UK Administration will actually determine the level of funding available to the Welsh Government to support farming and rural development.

“It will also determine the extent to which Welsh producers will have to compete with producers from other countries in the UK and around the world at different levels.

“That is why we will waste no time in reaching out to newly elected Welsh MPs and those with influential positions in Parliament to ensure we set out our key priorities at an early stage.

“Despite the challenges of navigating an ever-changing political landscape, our role as FUW in lobbying governments for the best possible outcomes for Welsh farming remains steadfast and unyielding.”