Plaid will this week call for action on farming incomes in an Assembly debate and has warned the Welsh Government that an unprecedented combination of factors could cause untold casualties in the farming industry.
The Party of Wales Shadow Agriculture Minister Llyr Gruffydd has warned that plummeting farm incomes coupled with extreme weather events and structural change through CAP reform are all contributing to unprecedented pressures on Welsh farming. The additional blow of the Welsh Government taking the maximum 15% out of direct payments to farmers will leave many businesses struggling to survive.
All this at a time when average farm incomes across all sectors have already dropped by 44%.
The Party of Wales Shadow Agriculture Minister Llyr Gruffydd said:
“These are very challenging times for the agriculture sector in Wales which faces a perfect storm of pressures on farming incomes.
“Average farm incomes have already suffered a breathtaking drop in the last year and Plaid Cymru worries that the CAP reforms being driven through by the Welsh Government doesn’t allow enough time for many farm busineses to adapt financially to the new environment. I have been told by numerous farming colleagues that they face the prospect of going out of business because of the combination of factors affecting their farms at the moment.”
Mr Gruffydd, who lives on a family farm in Denbighshire added:
“Farmers and politicians alike agree the Government’s longer term aim of a more resilient and sustainable industry. But the Minister has to realise the industry needs more time and help to adapt -particularly given the unique combination of factors they currently face.
“Plaid Cymru in our debate will be outlining some of the steps we want the Government to take because they cannot drive through change at the current rate and in these current circumstances without the prospect of a number of farming businesses going under.
“This is a difficult time for our rural economy and these challenges can only be overcome through government support and cooperation.”
