WAG's poor language costs organic farmers

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Jul 2008

WAG's misleading information has lead to significant numbers of farmers facing rejection for the Organic Farm Scheme (OFS) which provides essential financial support to farmers converting to and maintaining organic management.

Due to confusing advice and poor wording many farmers were unaware that applying for the scheme was a two part process, whereby they needed to both register their interest on an the OFS scheme form as well as making a claim on their SAF 2008.

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire said:"I have been contacted by constituents who have filled out the SAF form well before the deadline but who were not told they also needed to 'register their interest' on the OFS form.

"The term 'registering interest' suggests that there is no compulsion to do so when another application form has been completed and the WAG must take responsibility for their poor use of language and allow the farmers affected to join the scheme.

"Many of the farmers have already made significant payouts to prepare for the conversion and is unjust that they are now being asked to pay the price for WAGs incompetence.

"I am concerned that unless the WAG rectifies their mistake they will jeopardise their chances of reaching the Welsh Organic Action Plan target to have 10 - 15% of Welsh land organic by 2010.

"I will be writing to the Minister calling for her to look at the situation and allow those affected to be included in the scheme."