Farmers consider Cardiff protest over Welsh government policies

Farmers who believe they have been forgotten in rural Wales could protest to politicians in Cardiff.

Hundreds met at Welshpool livestock market, in Powys, to object to Welsh government policies on Thursday.

Organisers said more than 1,000 people attended to discuss proposed funding changes they believe will hit agriculture hard.

The Welsh government said it was committed to agriculture and that it was a challenging time for all sectors.

Dairy farmer Dai Miles, from Pembrokeshire, said: "There's quite a feeling of anger and frustration here. We're continually having regulations.

"As a livestock farmer you're being tarnished as the worst polluter in the world. No-one seems to be listening."

Meeting chairman Wyn Evans said: "Enough is enough. People have had enough that there's nothing happening in Cardiff Bay.

"They're not listening to rural communities, they're not listening to farming families, they're not listening to farming unions."

Rules aimed at cutting agricultural pollution in rivers, and concerns about TB were among issues raised.

There were calls for farmers to take their message to Cardiff Bay.

"There was a strong consensus to take this forward down to Cardiff," Mr Evans said.

"There's a similar meeting in the south next week and a decision will be made when and what to do down in Cardiff Bay."

The Welsh government said it was committed to the sector and had protected the basic payment scheme (BPS) budget at £238m for 2024, which it said was the same level as 2023.

A spokesman said: "This is an extremely challenging time across all sectors, with our overall budget worth £1.3bn less in real terms than when it was in 2021.

"We also continue to feel the impact of decisions taken by the UK government which mean we have lost £243m in replacement EU funding."