£2.1 fund to help improve Welsh livestock farm performance

Welsh livestock farmers will be encouraged to improve their financial and technical performance through a £2.1m fund designed to help them prepare for the post-Brexit world.

The provision of benchmarking data and more targeted advice from the government’s advisory service is set to be among the package of measures designed to help the county’s red meat sector become more competitive.

The money, earmarked from the Welsh government’s £50m EU transition fund, could help more than 2,000 beef and sheep farmers.

See also: 5 steps to a more profitable beef industry 

Farm leaders have welcomed the funding, pointing out it shows recognition of the vital importance of the agricultural industry to the Welsh economy and local communities.

Full details of the schemes are not yet available, but it is understood the money will be used to support producers in identifying improvements to their businesses by helping them gain a better understanding of their costs and output.

The Welsh government will also pay for an import substitution project to help identify and secure supply chains within the UK and encourage companies based in the EU to set up operations in Wales.

‘Volatility and changes’

Glyn Roberts, president of the Farmers Union of Wales, said the funding would allow farmers to assess the financial state of their businesses as part of their Brexit preparations.

“There is so much uncertainty around what will happen over the coming months and years in terms of Brexit that planning is nigh on impossible,” said Mr Roberts.

“However, those who gain a detailed understanding of their current costs and outputs will inevitably be better prepared for the volatility and changes, whatever they may be, allowing them to react more quickly and appropriately to protect and improve their businesses.”

John Davies, NFU Cymru president, called on the Welsh government to work with industry as it develops the detail of the scheme.

It was important that any information that would be required from producers was easily obtainable and that the support could make a meaningful difference on farm, he said.

A Welsh government spokesperson said in addition to delivering the project on performance indicators, the government would commission an analysis of industry data so it could better target its advisory services and investment support.

“We’re currently working with Hybu Cig Cymru [HCC] and the industry and aim to start this work in August, completing the work by early 2019.”