A NEW NFU Cymru survey of Welsh farmers has highlighted the staggering costs and unworkable burden imposed by Welsh Government's Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations.
The survey of over 400 farmers revealed many Welsh farming businesses were faced with spending thousands of pounds in order to comply with the regulations.
Of the 65% of Welsh farmers who had either already invested in infrastructure, or who were planning to imminently, the estimated mean cost of investment is approximately £100,000, with 12% stating the cost was over £200,000. Of those 146 farmers who had already invested in infrastructure to adhere to the regulations, less than 40% had received grant support towards the costs, citing the poor design of the investment schemes and the complexity of the grant application process. Farmers also cited they simply cannot afford, even with grant support, the costs based on the profitability of their businesses.
Farmers were subject to further costs when it comes to the planning and administrative processes associated with erecting new infrastructure to become compliant. Almost half (47%) of farmers said they had required planning permission to reach compliance. The estimated mean cost of spending on planning was found to be around £5,800, with 6% of respondents saying that had spent over £20,000.
And 84% of respondents indicated the rules relating to risk maps and recording keeping were having a very negative or fairly negative impact on their business. In fact, only a quarter of farmers said they had not required any support from an adviser or consultant - often at further cost to the business - to assist with record-keeping elements.
It is clear that this aspect of the regulations is causing a high level of anxiety amongst farming families.
84% of respondents identified that the closed periods for the spreading of organic manures with high readily available nitrogen and manufactured fertilisers were having a negative impact on their businesses; 69% of dairy farms who participated in the survey reported being impacted by the 170 kg/N/ha from livestock manures, with around a half of those impacted indicating they had reduced livestock numbers to reach compliance, sadly 5% had ceased production in a farming sector, 3% had given up farming altogether.
The outcomes from the survey have informed an NFU Cymru Evidence Submission which was presented to Dr Susannah Bolton, the independent external chair overseeing the statutory review of the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations, during a NFU Cymru arranged on farm meeting with the water quality review group and representatives of the agri-food supply chain on Wednesday 18th December. The r...
The survey of over 400 farmers revealed many Welsh farming businesses were faced with spending thousands of pounds in order to comply with the regulations.
Of the 65% of Welsh farmers who had either already invested in infrastructure, or who were planning to imminently, the estimated mean cost of investment is approximately £100,000, with 12% stating the cost was over £200,000. Of those 146 farmers who had already invested in infrastructure to adhere to the regulations, less than 40% had received grant support towards the costs, citing the poor design of the investment schemes and the complexity of the grant application process. Farmers also cited they simply cannot afford, even with grant support, the costs based on the profitability of their businesses.
Farmers were subject to further costs when it comes to the planning and administrative processes associated with erecting new infrastructure to become compliant. Almost half (47%) of farmers said they had required planning permission to reach compliance. The estimated mean cost of spending on planning was found to be around £5,800, with 6% of respondents saying that had spent over £20,000.
And 84% of respondents indicated the rules relating to risk maps and recording keeping were having a very negative or fairly negative impact on their business. In fact, only a quarter of farmers said they had not required any support from an adviser or consultant - often at further cost to the business - to assist with record-keeping elements.
It is clear that this aspect of the regulations is causing a high level of anxiety amongst farming families.
84% of respondents identified that the closed periods for the spreading of organic manures with high readily available nitrogen and manufactured fertilisers were having a negative impact on their businesses; 69% of dairy farms who participated in the survey reported being impacted by the 170 kg/N/ha from livestock manures, with around a half of those impacted indicating they had reduced livestock numbers to reach compliance, sadly 5% had ceased production in a farming sector, 3% had given up farming altogether.
The outcomes from the survey have informed an NFU Cymru Evidence Submission which was presented to Dr Susannah Bolton, the independent external chair overseeing the statutory review of the Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations, during a NFU Cymru arranged on farm meeting with the water quality review group and representatives of the agri-food supply chain on Wednesday 18th December. The r...
You're reading a preview of
Daily Post (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 26, 2024