Following the announcement that the Welsh Government plans to proceed with their draft regulations to create an All Wales Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, I have joined with fellow Welsh Conservative MPs in writing to Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs.
A significant number of constituents have written to us, expressing their disappointment, not only with the policy, but also the timing of this announcement, being during the lambing period – one of the busiest times of year for many of Wales’s farmers. We join farmers, Welsh Conservative AM’s and NFU Cymru in their frustration.
It is really disappointing to see the Welsh Government go ahead with these proposals. Based on evidence of water monitoring presented by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), there is no justification whatsoever for a whole Wales policy, therefore, to proceed with this regulation is both unnecessarily costly and damaging. No one should be able to damage the environment without penalty; but this is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Farming businesses are already under increased pressure to feed our Nation. They are currently faced with the financial implications that breaks in the supply chain bring - Beef prices have dropped, the majority of milk needed for the hospitality industry has dried up, and those dairy farmers who still have a route to market have seen payments delayed and prices cut. This additional burden just adds to the stress and anxiety many are now facing.
Although support packages launched by the government are in place for businesses and individuals, many Welsh farmers are unable to access financial support as they fall outside the categories. Welsh Conservative MPs have also written to raise this concern with The Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
I know that farmers in my constituency are already working closely with the Welsh Government to make improvements in water quality wherever they are needed and they continue to produce world-class food to high environmental standards. However, the proposals outlined by the Welsh Government would force farmers to take a wholly impractical approach for a number of different reasons. Creating storage for moths of slurry could incur a bill in the tens of thousands. It is also unreasonable to impose an arbitrary date for spreading. Farmers in Wales cannot farm to a set diary.
It makes me so proud to see what our farmers have been working hard to ensure that the country can continue to feed itself. This is why it is even more unhelpful that the Welsh Government should seek to bring forward these proposals at such a time. Now more than ever we should send a message of support to our farming community in Brecon and Radnorshire and I hope the Welsh Government will rethink these plans.
