Monmouthshire NFU Cymru members have met with David Davies MP to ensure that agricultural issues remain at the forefront of discussions during Brexit negotiations.
NFU Cymru Monmouthshire vice-chair Kate Beavan, who kindly hosted the meeting at Great Tre Rhew Farm in Llanvetherine, said: “We are proud of what we produce and I am delighted that there will be a new Foundation Degree in Agriculture available at Coleg Gwent's Usk Campus.
“This is showing confidence in the industry – we have an enthusiastic next generation of farmers wanting to enter the industry.
"We look to government to ensure that export markets are secured and that domestically, our produce - which is produced to high welfare and environmental standards - is not undermined by imports produced to lower standards.”
With Brexit negotiations now looking to move on to discuss trade, NFU Cymru members re-iterated that access to markets for their produce is key for all sectors of the agricultural industry in Wales.
With around three quarters of Welsh food and drink exports going to the EU, including over a third of the Welsh lamb crop, it is imperative that the UK’s negotiators strike a deal that secures continued free and frictionless trade between the UK and the member states of the EU.
Mr Davies said, “Agriculture is a vital part of the economy of Monmouthshire and Wales and it is important for MPs to be informed of the issues affecting farmers.
“Brexit is clearly this biggest issue and there seemed to be general agreement that the government should seek a post-Brexit deal which allows full access to the single market.
“It is also important that everyone realises the work that goes into maintaining our natural environment. Farmers can currently receive payments for farming in a sustainable fashion and it is vital that these continue.”
Ian Williams, NFU Cymru county chairman, thanked Mr Davies for his support on glyphosates and welcomed the continuation of the product for the next five years.
“We still have the issue of neonicotinoids. From an arable point of view, if seed isn’t pre-dressed we will have to use sprays in order to prevent aphid damaging yields." said Mr Williams.
“If it is a wet autumn, ground conditions will not be suitable to carry out spraying activity. Spraying more and damaging soil structure is not in our environmental interests at all. ”
Mr Davies concluded: “I am grateful to NFU Cymru for arranging this very useful meeting and I hope it can be done on a regular basis in different farms across the county.”