NFU Cymru sets out its priorities for Welsh Government budget

Ahead of the publication of the draft Welsh Government budget on  December 10, NFU Cymru has taken the opportunity to set out what the union believes should be the Government’s priorities as far as  agriculture is concerned.                

NFU Cymru President Mr Aled Jones said: “Over the last few weeks the UK Government’s proposals around changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) have understandably featured very prominently in our conversations with politicians and our members. 

"There is, however, another incredibly important area of work for NFU Cymru as Welsh Government prepares to set its own budget. 

"As part of that process, NFU Cymru has made a comprehensive submission to the Senedd’s Finance Committee to help inform their scrutiny of the forthcoming budget, as well as extensive and frequent representations to Welsh Government.

“When NFU Cymru met with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister at the very beginning of October, one of the points emphasised was how important it is for Welsh farming, the agri-food supply chain and rural communities that the BPS budget is maintained at the current level for 2025. At what is once again a very challenging time for the sector, the certainty and stability of an adequately funded BPS is crucial.

“As I have said on many occasions, supporting Wales’ farmers through the BPS to the tune of £238 million annually, produces an output from Welsh agriculture of around £2.2bn, a return on investment of around £9 for every £1 given in government support.”

NFU Cymru is also calling for the Welsh Government to, at the very least, restore the rural affairs budget to the level it was set at in 2022. 

Mr Jones said: “The rural affairs budget, which represents just 2.1 per cent of the total Welsh Government budget, was subjected to the most significant cuts of any budget in the last budget round at the end of 2023, and was set at £420m, down £62.5m (13 per cent) on the £482.5m level at which it was set at the end of 2022.  

“With the rural affairs budget paying for important public, animal and plant health measures and supporting economically important functions such as the promotion of Welsh food and drink domestically as well as in export markets, it is vital that the budget is now restored to the level it was set at in 2022 as a minimum.”