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Farming industry 'crisis' warning Sheep industry faces 'meltdown'
(about 5 hours later)
Farmers leaders say the industry is in crisis and facing a terminal decline which could see Wales' countryside, language and culture destroyed. The body promoting Welsh meat claims half the sheep industry in Wales could be "wiped out" within two years.
They blamed movement restrictions and supermarkets paying farmers low prices. Meat Promotion Wales (Hybu Cig Cymru) chairman Rees Roberts wants supermarkets to pay producers more.
Their comments came on the first day of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Powys, which despite being hit by restrictions organisers hope it will be a success. Speaking at the first day of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Llanelwedd, Powys, Mr Roberts said farmers would face an "economic meltdown".
The Welsh Assembly Government said it would take any actions necessary to restore markets which had been damaged. The British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, said it was a huge supporter of the industry.
But the Country Land and Business Association (CLA Wales) called for immediate action from the assembly government to secure the future of the Welsh countryside, language and culture. "Make no mistake - the industry in Wales is in crisis and the whole of the traditional Welsh rural way of life is now under threat," said Mr Roberts.
Welsh Chairman Ross Murray said problems facing farmers were not the industry's fault, and blue tongue restrictions had compounded "desperate" livestock market conditions created by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. "We are facing economic meltdown. It is entirely possible that we could come to this event in two years' time to discover that half of the Welsh sheep industry will have been wiped out."
That will be bad for consumers, bad for farming, bad for employment in the meat industry and bad for the countryside NFU Cymru president Dai DaviesThat will be bad for consumers, bad for farming, bad for employment in the meat industry and bad for the countryside NFU Cymru president Dai Davies
Mr Murray said that if the livestock industry collapsed it could lead to more land being ploughed for arable crops and land abandonment in some upland areas. Mr Roberts' warnings came as hundreds of farmers headed to Llanelwedd, where the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Cymru launched a campaign calling for a "fair price" for beef and sheep farmers.
He said: "Then the countryside that we all enjoy could disappear before our eyes. The union said that, according to a report, 72% of shoppers wanted to be able to buy British beef and lamb, and 80% believed supermarkets should offer farmers a fair deal.
"And with it is likely to go the Welsh language and much of our rich rural culture." The union warned that unless farmers' prices increased, in future traditional dishes such as cawl (a Welsh soup) would have to made using imported meat.
The chairman of Meat Promotion Wales (Hybu Cig Cymru) warned about consequences for the sheep industry if supermarkets did not start paying farmers more. Andrew Opie, the British Retail Consortium's director of food policy, said supermarkets had supported Welsh sheep farmers.
Rees Roberts said: "The industry is in crisis and could be decimated to half its present size in just two years. "Because of foot-and-mouth, supermarkets have really shown their credentials in supporting Welsh farmers," Mr Opie said.
"We are facing economic meltdown." He said the main problem, in his opinion, was the export ban on livestock due to the outbreak.
Their warnings come as hundreds of farmers headed to the first day of the Llanelwedd's Royal Welsh Winter Fair, where farming union NFU Cymru is launching a campaign calling for a "fair price" for beef and sheep farmers.
The union said that, according to a report, 72% or shoppers want to be able to buy British beef and lamb, and 80% believed supermarkets should offer farmers a fair deal.
The union warned that unless farmers' prices increased, in the future traditional dishes such as cawl (a Welsh soup) would have to made using imported meat.
The countryside that we all enjoy could disappear before our eyes Ross Murray, CLA Wales
It also warned that if the numbers of livestock farmers fell, landscapes like Snowdon would be at risk from under-grazing and agricultural dereliction.
NFU Cymru President Dai Davies said if prices did not rise, Welsh beef and lamb would become "niche products".
"That will be bad for consumers, bad for farming, bad for employment in the meat industry and bad for the countryside," he said.
Earlier this month, organisers of the winter fair were forced to axe the poultry section of the show after an outbreak of bird flu in Suffolk.
It was claimed anticipated record numbers of cattle entries had fallen because of bluetongue disease movement restrictions.
Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Livestock Officer Benjamin Williams said it had been "one thing after the other" for the farming industry.
But he said the show would still be a "cracking event" and give farmers a "light at the end of the tunnel".
'Keep up pressure''Keep up pressure'
NFU Cymru president Dai Davies said if prices did not rise, Welsh beef and lamb would become "niche products".
"That will be bad for consumers, bad for farming, bad for employment in the meat industry and bad for the countryside," he said.
The Welsh Assembly Government said it was determined to do everything in its power to help the Welsh sheep industry and encourage farmers to continue producing red meat.The Welsh Assembly Government said it was determined to do everything in its power to help the Welsh sheep industry and encourage farmers to continue producing red meat.
A spokesperson said the assembly government would introduce "any actions necessary" to recover markets which had been damaged by the events of the past six months, and to establish new markets.A spokesperson said the assembly government would introduce "any actions necessary" to recover markets which had been damaged by the events of the past six months, and to establish new markets.
"Farmers need a sustainable price for their product if they are to continue producing sheep and lambs."Farmers need a sustainable price for their product if they are to continue producing sheep and lambs.
"In the last year we have provided £6m for the light lamb scheme, and £1m to Hybu Cig Cymru to promote Welsh lamb and beef."In the last year we have provided £6m for the light lamb scheme, and £1m to Hybu Cig Cymru to promote Welsh lamb and beef.
"We will also continue to keep up pressure on Defra and the Westminster Government to adequately fund Welsh farming," the spokesperson said."We will also continue to keep up pressure on Defra and the Westminster Government to adequately fund Welsh farming," the spokesperson said.