Brecon and Radnorshire farmers put their concerns directly to Defra Farming Minister Mark Spencer during the Royal Welsh Winter Fair last week.
The Minister was invited by local MP Fay Jones who also serves in the department as a Government Whip.
Following meetings at the Winter Fair with Wales YFC, NFU Cymru and the FUW, the Minister visited Upper New House Farm, a family farm in Painscastle by kind invitation of Beau and Becky Herdman. Mr Herdman invited the Minister to meet with him on farm when he attended a function at Number 10 to mark the reopening of the US market to British lamb.
Around the kitchen table, local farmers highlighted the current pressures on the Welsh agricultural Industry and how both Welsh and UK Governments could step in to help. Topics included the current avian flu outbreak, the challenge of increased energy and fertiliser costs and unfair trading practices in the food supply chain. Compensation levels for Bovine TB outbreaks were also discussed with the Minister agreeing to look into the matter.
Describing the meeting, Ms Jones said: “Beau and Becky were extremely kind to host us on their farm. It was a very useful discussion – even for an active farmer like the Minister. Getting farmers together around a kitchen table for a frank chat is the best way for Ministers to hear what life is really like for us in rural Wales.
I am very grateful to Minister Spencer for joining us in the constituency. He left the meeting fully convinced of the need to work closely with the Welsh Government to ensure both administrations support the farming sector.
It has always been my intention to stand up for farming businesses in my patch and I will continue to do so.”