(Title Image: Richard Stanton via Farmers Weekly)
Few details on measures taken to protect Welsh farming in a “No Deal Brexit”
Tomorrow is the date UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, set for a post-Brexit trade deal to be agreed between the UK and EU before the end of the transition period. With that seemingly impossible, a No Deal Brexit is on the cards at the end of the year.
Llyr Gruffydd MS (Plaid, Arfon) listed the high proportion of Welsh agricultural produce which goes to EU member states. With a “No Deal” seemingly 12 weeks away, it was becoming a question as to what the Welsh Government were going to do.
“I was hoping to hear maybe how you were looking to ramp up cold storage capacity, to handle surplus produce that will no longer be exported. I was hoping you’d maybe tell us how public procurement would be stepping up to the plate, in order to try and absorb more domestic produce. Maybe you could tell us what discussions you’re having with the UK Government to ensure the risks of no-deal aren’t escalated by trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, potentially allowing for an increase in quota for lamb exports coming into the UK from those countries.”
– Llyr Gruffydd MS
He didn’t get many answers on specific preparations.
Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham), appreciated the sense of urgency, but talks were ongoing with the UK Government and intergovernmental meetings have increased. These include discussions on ways to support the sheep sector in the event of a No Deal – but no specifics.
Environmental impact of intensive poultry farming
Shadow Environment Minister, Jenet Finch-Saunders MS (Con, Aberconwy), noted the serious environmental impact intensive poultry farming has. Powys has a particularly large intensive poultry industry, with 116 of Wales’ 119 intensive farms being based there.
“Natural Resources Wales’s Powys poultry pilot study – an assessment of cumulative atmospheric releases – found that smaller, non-regulated, but covered under planning, poultry units do have a greater impact* on the local ammonia concentrations than the larger, regulated intensive units….It is noted that 12,000 free-range laying hens have a greater environmental impact* than 80,000 meat birds. “
– Shadow Environment Minister, Janet Finch-Saunders
The Minister mentioned new regulations coming down the line relating to agricultural pollution (poultry farming has been blamed on pollution in the River Wye).
The Minister said she’s made it clear several times that farmers would be supported if they needed new infrastructure to help cut pollution levels. That didn’t mean funding to bring them up to compliance – she expected them to be compliant in the first place.
* It’s unclear whether this means increased ammonia concentrations or a greater impact on lowering concentrations.
