A ‘Keeping Farmers Farming’ consultation was launched in December by Welsh Government that included proposals to dramatically change the way subsidies are given to farmers.
Changes include ensuring farmers plant trees on 10% of their land amongst other environmental mitigation.
Large numbers of farmers have protested against the changes, including convoys of slow moving tractors. They say the proposals will mean that farming will become uneconomic.
FUW President, Ian Rickman has said the new subsidy policy “in its current form will not be sustainable and is clearly not ready.”
First Minister, Mark Drakeford recently angered farmers and opposition parties by claiming it was not up to farmers how subsidies are spent.
Meanwhile, minister Lesley Griffiths has said that every individual response to the consultation will be considered and that no final decision on the scheme will be taken until the consultation is completed and responses considered.
The Minister said: “The title of this consultation is Keeping Farmers Farming, and that is exactly our aim. I know this is a period of uncertainty for farming as we design future support.
“We have to get this right. I want our farmers to continue to produce food sustainably. That’s why we’ve involved the industry every step of the way, and it’s vitally important people take part in the consultation. We have never engaged so thoroughly with our farmers and stakeholders.
“I meet with the farming unions regularly, and met them earlier this week specifically to discuss feedback from our Sustainable Farming Scheme consultation roadshows and theirs.
“This is a genuine consultation and I fully expect to make some changes to the proposals as a result of the responses. We are listening and we will consider all responses.”
A further protest by farmers against the proposed changes is planned in Swansea on Saturday (24 February).
The consultation is open until March 7.
