Agricultural challenges discussed between council and farming groups

20 March 2024

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 19), representatives from the Farmers' Union of Wales, NFU Cymru and the Nature Friendly Farming Network met with senior leaders from Powys County Council to discuss the challenges facing the agriculture sector, including the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme.

Following the meeting, Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, and Cllr Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys, said: "We are fully aware of the importance of our farming and agricultural sector in Powys and how anxious farmers are about the proposals within the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

"We would like to thank the Farmers' Union of Wales, NFU Cymru and the Nature Friendly Farming Network for meeting the council so that we could listen to their concerns.

"We need to work together to ensure a successful future for farming here in Powys but also across Wales and support the sector in providing food security and help them respond to the climate emergency.

"By supporting the farming community, not only are we supporting a national industry but we are also helping and enhancing our local communities."

Earlier this month, the Full Council of Powys County Council backed a motion which called on the Welsh Government to 'renew engagement with the farming unions, before re-approaching the agricultural sector once serious amendments have been made to the Sustainable Farming Scheme.