South Wales Central MS Andrew RT Davies has warned Senedd ministers’ Sustainable Farming Scheme will deal a fresh blow to the Vale of Glamorgan economy.
Senedd ministers have now published the impact assessment into the revised scheme.
They admit it will result in up to a 5% hit to livestock numbers, a 4% hit to labour employed on Welsh farms and a 16% hit on farm incomes.
Pointing out this would not just hit Vale farmers, but also agricultural suppliers and other associated industries, Mr Davies called on ministers to think again.
He also hit out at a “disproportionate” English livestock ban, which he said was “rooted in separatism”.
Mr Davies said:
“Senedd ministers’ have admitted their Sustainable Farming Scheme will hit livestock numbers, farm jobs and farm incomes. Yet they’re ploughing on regardless.
“In the Vale, many businesses and jobs rely on farming, including agricultural suppliers and other associated industries. It won’t just be farmers who are hit.
“This scheme has never been about farming, it was devised by to push ideologically motivated environmental policies by people who do not understand rural communities and agriculture.
“What’s worse, this isn’t the only damaging policy Senedd ministers implemented.
“Bluetongue has now arrived in Wales, as it always inevitably would.
“This shows their English livestock ban was not motivated by a desire to protect Welsh agriculture, it came from a separatist desire to create a hard border with England.
“Separatist Senedd ministers do not understand the Vale. Change is required.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the impact assessment into Senedd ministers’ Sustainable Farming Scheme