NSA hopeful assent of Welsh Agriculture Act signifies progress
22nd August 2023
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is hopeful the Royal Assent of the Welsh Agriculture Act announced last week will stimulate some progress with policy development for Wales.
The main source of future government support for farmers in Wales is underpinned by the Act and is likely to be delivered through the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), a scheme looking to enable food production alongside taking action to combat climate change.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “The co-design of the Sustainable Farming Scheme is proving to be a time sensitive task and NSA is concerned about slippages in planned progress. The SFS is to be in place for 2025, however a clear scheme outline and significant, meaningful information regarding the financial implications of the scheme are yet to be seen. NSA has consistently highlighted that a period of just over 12 months is not sufficient time for farming businesses to plan for the future. The Agriculture Act has the potential to reinvigorate progress to support the farming sectors, placing due value on sustaining rural communities, environmental deliverables, language, culture and heritage along with ensuring the nation has reliable access to high quality, affordable food.”
NSA has repeatedly advocated the need to become more food secure as a nation, both at a Welsh and UK level, but also to optimise opportunities for trade in products that suit particular environmental and climatic conditions. The Association therefore considers it vital Welsh Government do not let the opportunity to create a workable and valued scheme pass them by and ensure as an industry collaboration on the co-design so far in relation to the SFS can be completed.
NSA Cymru / Wales Development Officer Helen Roberts says: “The opportunity is for government to commit to enhancing and supporting farming in Wales in the most meaningful ways possible, an opportunity to get it right for generations to come. NSA is pleased Welsh Government is making strides towards these goals but is keen to ensure that a collaborative approach is maintained. NSA is looking forward to working constructively with Welsh Government to continue to develop a scheme that delivers for Welsh agriculture, including for the environment. NSA acknowledges the challenges faced and welcome the intention of new schemes, but future schemes need to be inclusive, fair, and also recognise the value of farm diversity evident in Wales.
“We are not and do not want to be a homogenous industry. NSA is strongly in support of the diverse nature of farming businesses across Wales and would be concerned that the current proposals are prescriptive, inflexible, and exclusive to different sectors and operating systems.”
