Kirsty calls for clarification on Glastir

12.00.00am GMT Wed 13th Jan 2010

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon and Radnorshire has today called upon the Minister for Rural Affairs to stop keeping farmers in the dark over the proposed Glasir funding and to clarify requirements for entry to the scheme with haste.

There are growing fears from the farming industry that Glastir is not yet fit for purpose and the schedule for its implementation, in 2012, is far too ambitious. There are strong concerns amongst the farming community over the scheme's qualifying system and how common land claimants will be affected.

Kirsty Williams said:" The Minister is unfairly expecting Farmers to take a leap of faith in the Glastir scheme, by asking them to express their interest in the entry level scheme, but by not providing details of its requirements.

"We also await to know when farmers will be able to enter the higher level scheme - many farmers are concerned that only by getting into the higher level scheme will they be able to break even.

"The Minister must publish feedback from the entry level trials in order to increase faith in the scheme, particularly as so far rumoured feedback has been negative.

"With 80% of Wales' land mass being farmland, agri-environment schemes are therefore central to the protection and enhancement of our biodiversity and countryside. But it is essential that in complement to environmental concerns the new Glastir scheme also keeps farming interests at its heart and that the Minister listens to the industry's concerns."

Notes

The new all Wales Glastir Sustainable Land Management Scheme will replace the existing Tir Mynydd, Tir Gofal, Tir Cynnal and Organic Farming schemes and provide an incentive to encourage more farms to participate within the Better Woodlands for Wales scheme. The new scheme aims to meet the new environmental challenges set out by the CAP health checks and to reduce red tape for farmers. The scheme will not pay grants, farmers will need to underwrite the costs themselves.

Glastir will be split in two, with a basic all-Wales element and a higher targeted element intended for wider issues such as climate change and water management. Farmers must join the basic scheme (Glastir 1) before they can enter the higher element (Glastir 2).