Wales proposes new Agriculture Bill

Lesley Griffiths MS Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd vists John and Anna Booth at Rhual Dairy Farm near Mold

In a move to protect and support farmers in Wales, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced that a Welsh Agriculture Bill has been laid before the Senedd (Welsh Parliament).

This Bill includes “transformational legislation” that will look to support farmers, sustainable food production, and help to conserve and enhance the Welsh countryside.

The Bill also features a Programme for Government commitment with a complete ban of the use of snares and glue traps. This will mean that Wales will be the first country in the UK to introduce a total ban on these devices.

Commenting on this proposal, the Minister said: “These devices catch animals indiscriminately, causing great deal of suffering, and they are not compatible with the high animal welfare standards we strive for here in Wales. A complete ban is the only way forward.”

Today in the Senedd:

🗣 Questions to the First Minister
🚜 The Agriculture (Wales) Bill
◼ Response to the UK Government Financial Statement

Watch live from 13:30 👉 https://t.co/RqcW5tpKJf pic.twitter.com/hRlQI7jR5i

— Welsh Parliament (@SeneddWales) September 27, 2022

“This historic Welsh Agriculture Bill not only impacts the agriculture sector, but everyone across Wales, from the food we eat, to how it has been grown, harvested, stored and prepared for sale,” continued Griffiths.

“For the first time, we have the chance to build a system of support and legislation which works for our farmers, our sector, our land and our people.”

The Bill ‘s central focus is around Sustainable Land Management, which establishes a policy and legislative framework that should help farmers produce high quality food and agricultural goods long into the future.

The four key objectives of Sustainable Land Management are as follows:

• To produce foods in a sustainable manner
• To mitigate and adapt to climate change
• To maintain and enhance the resilience of our eco systems and to conserve and enhance the Welsh countryside, culture
• To sustain the Welsh language and promote and facilitate its use.

With today’s uncertain financial climate, this Bill will also help to introduce protection for agricultural tenants, ensuring that they are not unfairly restricted from accessing financial assistance.

“These are difficult and challenging times for our farmers.  Climate change, rising costs, new trade deals and the war in Ukraine, are just some of the issues they face,” explained Griffiths.

“This Bill provides a framework on which all future agricultural support will be delivered and outlines how we can keep farmers on the land, produce food sustainably and deal with the climate emergency.