MP Glyn Davies to put spotlight on plight of hill sheep farmers in Commons debate
Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies is aiming to put the spotlight on the plight of hill sheep farmers today after hearing first hand of the problems they have faced during a harsh winter.
Sheep farmers from the Welsh borders got to speak to Mr Davies when the visited Welshpool Livestock Market yesterday. He wanted to discuss their concerns after the recent snows killed hundreds of sheep.
The MP is now in London for a 30-minute Parliamentary debate on the subject which is being held today. It will look at the impact of recent snowfalls on the UK's upland sheep farmers.
Many farmers in the area lost livestock as a result of sheep getting buried in snowdrifts or dying in the cold, and as the freezing weather happened during one of the peak lambing times, many lambs were unable to survive the harsh conditions.
Mr Davies said it was only when the snow melted that farmers could really see the devastating effect on their stock.
He said one farmer told him a horrific tale of having to dispose of 72 sheep carcasses last week and another 72 this week.
"Hill sheep farmers have come under increasing pressure because of the recent bad weather," Mr Davies said. "It has been pretty bad as the snow came bang on the lambing season but just because the snow has gone doesn't mean it is sorted."
He said there was a lack of understanding from the wider population about the lives of hill farmers.
"My ambition really is to make sure the rest of the British population know what the hill sheep farmers are going through," he said.
"I spent a lot of time talking to the farmers and heard about their experiences over the past few weeks.
"I wanted to know about the various sheep that had died and the various illnesses that the sheep suffered because of the lack of grass and poor diet and the huge cost of dumping their carcasses."
