THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017


31 Farming NVZ proposals slammed


New NVZ rules will price out farmers: NFU Cymru claim NFU CYMRU has strongly


opposed Welsh Government proposals to designate further areas of Wales as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ). In response to the Welsh


Government consultation, which closed on December 23, NFU Cymru has set out its opposition to proposals which would see the area of NVZ in Wales increase from 2.4% to 8% with a significant new designation in Pembrokeshire and smaller new designations within Anglesey and Carmarthenshire. NFU Cymru President Stephen


James said: “NFU Cymru remains wholly unconvinced on the basis of evidence presented by Natural Resources Wales that further NVZ designations are necessary in Wales. Additionally, proposals to designate the whole of Wales as NVZ, known as ‘Whole Territory Designation’ are completely without any scientific foundation.” Mr James added: “NFU Cymru is


disappointed that Welsh Government has opted not to publish a regulatory impact assessment alongside the consultation. This work is vital to demonstrate the costs and impacts of proposals on individual businesses, sectors and specific regions and indeed the whole economy of rural Wales together with its social and cultural well-being. Without a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment, neither our members nor decision makers are in a position to make an informed, evidence-based decision on the impacts of designation or the cost-


effectiveness of the action programme. “Our own NFU Cymru NVZ


Survey showed that around one in eight (13%) of farmers would consider leaving the industry if the NVZ proposals are introduced. Nearly three quarters (73%) of farmers surveyed did not have sufficient slurry storage on their farm to meet the proposed NVZ requirements and it would cost, on average, nearly £80,000 for Welsh farmers to upgrade their slurry storage facilities to achieve NVZ slurry storage compliance. “The significant costs to achieve


compliance need to be considered in the context of a sustained period of low market returns across many sectors. According to the figures based on the results of the Wales Farm Business Survey for 2015-16 (up to March 2016), average farm business income across ‘All Farm Types’ fell by £6,800 to £22,200 - a decline of around 23%. This is the third consecutive year for farm incomes to fall. “The high levels of concern and


opposition expressed by farmers throughout the consultation period are predominantly due to the added costs and reduction in farmers’ ability to make good management decisions, relating to resource management based on their knowledge of their own farm, prevailing weather and ground conditions. Overall, NFU Cymru believes that the extent to which the existing NVZ Action Programme is effective in reducing levels of nitrates from agriculture has not been demonstrated. “NFU Cymru recognises the


clear role that farmers have to play in contributing to further and sustained improvements in water quality in the years ahead. We would emphasise, that throughout the consultation period with our members, their willingness to play their part and take action to address nitrates where agriculture is responsible has been unequivocal – farmers take their environmental responsibilities very seriously. “We are strong advocates of


appropriate interventions where poor practices are responsible. It is our view that approaches to address water quality must consider the full range of issues and sectors influencing water quality, be evidence-based, provide local solutions to local problems working in partnership with industry.” Concluding, Mr James said: “NFU


Cymru is strongly opposed to the consultation proposals as the costs associated with the implementation vastly outweigh any benefits to water quality. NFU Cymru believes that the new legislative framework provided through the Well-Being of Future Generations Act 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 presents opportunities and the flexibility to move forward and make progress on water quality issues on a different basis to that proposed within the consultation. An alternative approach rather than an unwieldy EU directive will enable us to develop, grow and realise NFU Cymru’s vision of a productive, progressive and profitable industry that will deliver jobs, growth and investment for Wales.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72