New first minister must reset farm policies, says NFU Cymru

The appointment of Vaughan Gething as first minister of Wales must provide a “reset” moment on important farm policies to ensure solutions can be found that work for farmers, NFU Cymru has said.

Mr Gething has replaced Mark Drakeford as leader of Welsh Labour and was confirmed as the first minister of Wales on Wednesday (20 March). In doing so, he has become the first black leader of a European country.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer congratulated Mr Gething and said his appointment will be “a historic moment that speaks to the progress and values of modern day Wales”.

See also: Video: Farmers put boot into Welsh government farm policy plans

Mr Gething, 50, was born in Zambia where his father, a Welsh vet, met his mother, a chicken farmer. He came to Britain aged two and later attended Aberystwyth University where he studied politics.

NFU Cymru said Mr Gething has been appointed at a critical time for Welsh agriculture, which faces significant challenges, and there are a number of priorities that he will need to address in relation to farming in Wales.

Welsh farmer protests

In recent weeks, farmers in Wales have staged a series of demonstrations against what they say are the Welsh Labour government’s anti-farming policies, including high-profile protests outside the Senedd in Cardiff.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said events over the past few weeks had further highlighted the “high level of dissatisfaction” among farmers with the Welsh government’s proposals for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), the future farm support scheme which will replace the CAP.

The union is asking Mr Gething to ensure the SFS includes a long-term stability mechanism, which it says is crucial to many farming businesses to underpin the resilience of food production in Wales.

NFU Cymru says the minister must ensure that plans for Universal Actions in the SFS, are truly universal.

And it is calling for a review of the 10% tree planting requirements and for a science panel to assess alternatives to tree planting.

Mr Jones said bovine TB “continues to cause untold heartache to farming families and devastation to herds across Wales”, adding: “The fact that we are still seeing around 10,000 cattle slaughtered every year is not acceptable.”

NFU Cymru is asking Mr Gething to commit to reviewing the Welsh government’s TB policy, to include a strategy which includes tackling the disease in wildlife.

NVZ rules ‘unworkable’

Finally, the union wants the first minister to review pan-Wales nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) regulations which are “unworkable” for farmers and adding “exorbitant” costs to livestock and dairy farming businesses.

“The new first minister takes office at what is a critical juncture. It does, however, provide an opportunity to ‘reset’ on some of these important issues and revisit the government’s current position [on the SFS],” said Mr Jones.

“NFU Cymru is committed to working with the first minister and his cabinet to ensure that farming can continue to deliver multiple benefits for the people and communities of Wales.”

Shadow rural affairs minister Andrew RT Davies (Conservative) said he would be happy to work with Mr Gething to “make sure we change the Sustainable Farming Scheme”.

Mr Davies also urged the new first minister to scrap the default 20mph speed limit in rural parts of Wales.

Meanwhile, an announcement has yet to be made on whether Lesley Griffiths will remain as rural affairs secretary.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “Farming, and agriculture more widely, is vitally important to Wales. It is part of our economy, identity and culture, and we are committed to supporting the industry to ensure it has a successful future.”