(Title Image: walesfarmer.co.uk)
Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham), has announced a bespoke financial support package aimed at dairy farmers, who’ve been hit hard by the slowdown in food production due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dairy farmers who have lost 25% or more of their incomes during April and May 2020 will be eligible for up to £10,000 to cover a maximum of 70% of their lost income.
Additional measures will be taken across the UK to promote milk and competition rules have been relaxed to encourage co-operation through the lockdown period.
Both the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru criticised the Welsh Government’s slow response to the issue, with Llyr Gruffydd MS (Plaid, North Wales) suggesting a support package could’ve been easily announced “weeks ago”.
Shadow Environment & Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew RT Davies MS (Con, South Wales Central) urged the government to ensure the money went to farms “as quickly as possible”.