Plaid Cymru reaffirm support for Welsh Farmers ahead of major protest in Cardiff Bay

PLAID Cymru have reaffirmed their support for the Welsh farmers and rural communities ahead of a major protest expected in front of the Senedd.

Plaid Cymru have also tabled a debate on eradication of bovine tuberculosis which threatens the future of many farms.

And will be supporting another debate in principle on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

Plaid Cymru’s debate calls on the Welsh Government to

– urgently undertake a long-term evaluation and appraisal of current cattle controls to determine their relative effectiveness in preventing and controlling disease transmission

– make immediate changes to farm slaughter policy

– establish policies which reflect wildlife as a source of infection and which allow for proper and scientifically validated culling and control methods;

– and consult with NFU Cymru, FUW and other representatives of the agriculture sector in Wales to establish a new way forward in determining a bovine TB policy for Wales

Plaid Cymru Rural Affairs spokesperson Llyr Gruffydd MS said that Plaid Cymru was “proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our rural communities” and said demanding fairness for farmers and securing he future of the Welsh family farm was a priority for the party.

Mr Gruffydd said that Tory-made trade deals that undermined agriculture sector and their failure to match post Brexit funding and “Labour’s weakness” in dealing with the impact on TB on family farms, the failed delivery of a Habitat Wales Scheme, and an “unworkable plan to cover 10% of their land with trees” had created the perfect storm leaving the sector feeling under siege.

Plaid Cymru Rural Affairs spokesperson Llyr Gruffydd MS said,

“Plaid Cymru is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our rural communities as we demand fairness for farmers and secure the future of the Welsh family farm.

“Farmers across Wales have had enough. They feel let down by governments either end of the M4.

“From Tory-made trade deals which undermine our agriculture sector and their failure to match post Brexit funding – to Labour’s weakness in dealing with the impact on TB on family farms, their delivery of a Habitat Wales Scheme which risks undoing so many years of agri-environment work, and an unworkable plan to cover 10% of their land with trees, with the loss of productive farmland.

“Coming just 24 hours before Plaid Cymru’s debate in the Senedd calling for immediate changes to on-farm TB slaughter policy, we welcome the appointment of a group of experts to review the rules. Change cannot come quickly enough, and we will continue to urge the Government to act on this and the other demands in oour motion.

“However, on the Sustainable Farming Scheme, only an unequivocal statement of a pause and review of the proposals will reassure the sector that the government is genuinely listening and responding meaningfully to the concerns expressed. Whilst we acknowledge that a future First Minister and a potential future Rural Affairs Minister will wish to consider their own response, Plaid Cymru will continue to work with the industry to make the case to government for change.

“In the meantime, we urge everyone to respond to the ongoing consultation to leave the government in no doubt that the current proposals do not achieve Wales’s climate change ambitions in a way that also delivers a sustainable future for our family farms.”

“Plaid Cymru will always stand up for all of Wales, including our agriculture sector. Labour and the Tories must do the same and work with the sector to secure its future – as key partners for tackling climate change and delivering food security.”