The primary function of farmers is to grow crops and raise livestock for food production, while retaining natural ecosystems as custodians of the countryside.
But many Welsh farmers feel their essential role as food producers is under threat from multiple competing demands for land, and the need to tackle climate change and help meet the UK government’s ambition of reaching net zero by 2050.
At this week’s Royal Welsh Show, two subjects dominated the political agenda – and both sparked controversy.
See also: NFU Cymru leaders threaten to shun Sustainable Farming Scheme
First, the Welsh government’s plans to double down on its 10% tree cover target as a condition to receive future payments under the planned Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) sparked an angry backlash from farmers and unions.
Second, farm leaders expressed shock after the Welsh government announced all Glastir contracts will end on 31 December this year and be replaced by an interim agri-environment scheme until the FS starts in 2025.
Genuine anger
The 10% tree cover proposal has provoked genuine anger among farmers, who say they will have to cut production to achieve it.
Those farmers believe they are being used as a means to an end by the Welsh government to achieve a “quick win” to meet its own 43,000ha tree planting target by 2030.
Robin and Jo Ransome run a small livestock farm in Bleddfa, near Knighton, Powys, where they keep 16 breeding cows and 120 sheep.
Speaking from the cattle sheds at the Royal Welsh showground in Llanelwedd, Mr Ransome summed up the exasperation many Welsh farmers feel about current farm policy.
“The Welsh government does not want farmers,” he sighed. “But where is the world going to get its food from? We’re only 60% self-sufficient in the UK. If we reduce food production, we’re going to have to import more, adding air miles and extra pollution.”
Mr Ransome said requiring all farmers in Wales to plant at least 10% tree cover on their land and then make up any sortage in food through imports would also deplete food supplies to third-world countries.
Giving up productive farmland to allow investors, including airline companies, to plant trees to offset their carbon emissions was unjust, he added.
Sapling supply
Something else the government doesn’t seem to have factored into its calculations is the loss of saplings to drought and disease – a considerable number of trees planted in Wales ahead of the 2022 drought withered and died.
NFU Cymru deputy president Abi Reader, who is growing 1.6ha of trees as an agroforestry project to produce biochar for use in cement and plaster production, said she experienced an 80% failure rate with those trees.
But the Welsh government insists trees are an asset to the farm – for example, providing shelter for livestock in extreme weather and biosecurity barriers on farm boundaries.
The policy was challenged by NFU president Minette Batters. Speaking at an NFU Cymru seminar on food supply, she pointed out tat “while the Welsh government is placing a vast emphasis on trees, Wales grows the greatest crop on earth – grass”.
“Grass is more important than anything,” she said. “We are hugely privileged in Great Britain that we can grow it.”
Government view
The Welsh government told Farmers Weekly the first-ever made-in-Wales Agriculture Bill, which was passed by the Senedd recently, will enable “ambitious and transformational support” for farmers to produce food sustainably, and to conserve and enhance the Welsh countryside, culture and language.
A spokesperson said: “We want to keep farmers on the land in recognition that food production is vital for our nation.
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“The proposals set out in our Sustainable Farming Scheme, which will commence in 2025, are designed to tackle the nature and climate emergencies, alongside the sustainable production of food.”
