[ad_1]
Welsh farmers have issued a heartfelt plea to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, raising concerns about the potential impact of cuts to the farming budget on the industry. With Chancellor Rachel Reeve set to deliver Labour’s first budget, support for agriculture is facing scrutiny in light of a £22bn shortfall in public finances.

Campaign group Digon yw Digon, which means “Enough is Enough” in Welsh, has alerted the PM to the struggles faced by many Welsh family farms, citing rising costs, inclement weather, and previous cuts to farm support. The group emphasizes that farmers in Wales work long hours, with livestock farmers earning an average annual income far below the national living wage.

Speculation about changes to inheritance tax relief for agricultural assets is causing further concern, with warnings that such reforms could devastate Welsh family farms within a single generation. Digon yw Digon highlights that not only farmers, but also tens of thousands of others employed in the agricultural supply chain, depend on the Welsh farming budget, which has effectively been frozen since 2014.

NFU Cymru has called for an increase in the annual agricultural budget in Wales to over £500m to accommodate inflation and support the industry’s objectives for food production, nature, and climate. Green organizations like the RSPB suggest that a budget of £600m annually is necessary to achieve the Welsh government’s environmental targets.

A spokesperson for Digon yw Digon stressed the importance of ensuring that the upcoming Sustainable Farming Scheme is accessible and adequately funded to support food production and security in the UK, given the challenges posed by Climate Change in other countries. The Welsh government has confirmed payments to farm businesses under the Basic Payment Scheme, acknowledging the sector’s difficulties and engaging with stakeholders as they prepare their budget plans.

In conclusion, Welsh farmers are urging policymakers to prioritize the needs of the farming industry to ensure its Sustainability and contribution to food production and environmental goals.

[ad_2]
SOURCE