After Senedd members voted overwhelmingly to enable the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations to be scrutinised by a Senedd committee, Plaid Cymru Spokesperson for Agriculture and Rural Affairs Cefin Campbell MS said,
“Today’s vote is a victory for common sense. It is a victory for our farmers and unions and it is a victory for our rural communities.
“We have heard time and again why the regulations as they stand are not acceptable. Not only were they rushed through recklessly by a Minister who promised, ten times no less, that they would not be introduced while Wales was still in a pandemic, they were introduced against the expert recommendation of Natural Resources Wales who said regulations should be introduced in the 8% most at-risk areas rather than on an all-Wales basis.
“Furthermore, the lack of financial support available to help farm businesses cope with the regulations would leave family farms severely affected. How on earth can the minister justify offering £11million in financial support, when the government’s own assessments suggest that the cost to farmers could be between £109million, and £360million?
“Welsh farmers are part of the solution, not part of the problem. Plaid Cymru believe it’s time for the Government to listen to them – and to the experts.
“It is time to look to the future by embracing technology to make far more accurate choices around land management – such as using weather stations on farms to measure soil temperature, leaf moisture, wind direction and rainfall – enabling farmers to make on-field decisions around slurry spreading, pesticide spraying or harvesting. This is far more scientific than farming by calendar, which is both impractical and outdated.
“Now is the time to work together to reach a consensus, and to come to a solution that will protect our environment from pollution AND ensure the viability of farmers and communities in rural Wales over the years to come.
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