Funding holds the key to future farm support scheme for Wales

A post-Brexit farm support scheme that can win the support of both the farming industry and Welsh ministers will depend on securing an adequate budget to deliver it.

That was the message from Welsh government director of rural affairs Gian Marco Currado, addressing the NFU Cymru county conference for Brecon and Radnor on Monday (3 February). 

See also: Welsh government releases £14m for SFS preparatory schemes

“We need sufficient budget to deliver the scheme and for that we need to be able to make the case for its credibility and show ministers it’s worth investing in,” he told farmers.

Mr Currado also reiterated that there had been a change of tune by the Welsh government in developing the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), with the focus remaining on collaboration.

Mr Currado was asked if the Welsh government had missed an opportunity to properly support food production through the SFS.

He reassured farmers that it was trying to support a sustainable food industry and create a scheme farmers can back.

Food security, he added, was rising up the political agenda and the government recognised the success of Welsh food and drink, with Welsh beef and lamb a “jewel in the crown”.

“We want to support the sector and the next generation coming through. We do what we can to protect it,” he said.

Aled Jones, Abi Reader, Gian Marco Currado and Rob Powell © Anne Dunn

Cattle numbers

But beef farmer Edward Harris, who attended the event, was concerned about the drop in cattle numbers and its effect on the way of life and food security.

“We’re a cattle valley, the land suits that,” he said. “Our local market in Knighton would have traditionally had 1,600 calves at its peak, we do 200 to 300 now.

“The youngsters will go, the machinery will go, the skills will be lost and it won’t be replaced.

“Once it’s gone it’s gone. It’s finished for good,” he said.

There was some optimism about the scheme being developed, however. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: “If we get the SFS right, it could be the best of the four nations.”

He added that he would call for a delay to the scheme should it not deliver.