A POLL commissioned by the Country Land and Business Association in Wales (CLA Cymru) has found that just 3% of farmers trust the Welsh government.
The poll comes amid rising tensions between the Senedd and rural communities as Cardiff develops new post-Brexit funding schemes for agriculture.
Now, with the power to determine its agriculture policy, the Welsh Government has been developing funding schemes to replace the previous subsidy model with mechanisms to pay farmers for environmental improvements.
While similar schemes have already been rolled out in England, slowly securing the support of farmers there, the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) is only at the formal consultation stage.
The same poll also found that 87% of farmers believed SFS would neither support their business nor deliver positive environmental outcomes. Just 6% said they would opt into the schemes in their current form, which many consider unnecessarily prescriptive and complex.
CLA Cymru Director Victoria Bond said: “This is damning evidence, but it only proves what we already know – rural communities feel ignored and let down by the Welsh Government.
“The next First Minister must govern for all of Wales – not just the urban and industrial parts. Rural Wales is as much a part of our national culture as our cities, steelworks and former mining communities.
“As farmers, we work tirelessly to produce high quality food, and we are on the front line in the fight against climate change and nature decline. It is perfectly reasonable to expect the government to work with us constructively in the national interest.”
Victoria points to schemes in England, which have been improved by constant collaboration between Defra and rural organisations.
She added: “With a new First Minister, we can hit the reset button. We know that schemes to support environmentally friendly land management practices can work when developed in a spirit of mutual respect.”
The Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said: “
This survey result is a damning indictment, yet isn’t too surprising, given how the Welsh Government has treated farmers over the last few years.
“The Welsh Government gave up being a government for all of Wales long ago. Their urban-focused policies and continuous attacks on rural Wales have led to trust in this Welsh Government being at rock bottom.
“Farming is in desperate need of a friend, and only the Welsh Conservatives have the policies to restore trust and be that friend to farming.”
