The Welsh Government’s proposed changes for the farming community, the Sustainable Farming Scheme, is projected to cut 11% of labour on Welsh farms, the equivalent of losing 5,500 jobs. This modelling is contained in the Government's own Impact Assessment.
It is also projected that this scheme will give a devastating blow of £125.3 million to economic output from the sector and a loss of £199 million to farm business income.
The impact of the rising pressure that the farming community is under cannot be understated, the unprecedented challenges already facing the industry is taking a huge toll on businesses and farmers themselves with agriculture having some of the highest incidences of suicide with the mental health of many farmers suffering as a direct result of policies.
The cumulative impact of a series of policies including Agricultural Pollution regulations, the lack of progress on tackling Bovine TB, the abolition of the Glastir scheme and now the Sustainable Farming Scheme is having a negative impact on the farming sector and farmer wellbeing.
The Welsh Government’s draft budget cut the rural affairs budget by an eyewatering £62 million negatively impacting over 223,500 people working in the farming sector.
Peter Fox said:
“The farming community is such an important part of our culture, identity and food security and the fact that they are continually ignored or taken for granted is a national embarrassment.
“I know farmers are feeling frustrated and angry and I don’t blame them. It is so hard for them to make a living right now and their businesses and way of lives are being threatened continually by a Labour Government woefully out of touch with them.
“Labour ministers are ignoring the farming community to the detriment of everyone.”
