Farmers have been heavily affected by Brexit. How will it change their vote on 4 July?
SNOWDONIA, WALES – Life as a farmer in the rugged peaks of Eryri National Park is not easy. The weather can be merciless, the days long, the agriculture unpredictable.Britain’s departure from the European Union led to seismic changes in agricultural policy and support for farmers across the UK, ending European subsidy schemes and ushering in new trade deals.
“It was a huge step and I know my neighbours were thinking I was absolutely crazy. We didn’t take it lightly.” The impact of Brexit on farmers has been compounded by the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine, with Mr Williams estimating that the price of fertiliser has risen 60 per cent since February 2022.
Mr Williams also fears this could open the door to other post-Brexit trade agreements which hit British farmers in the wallet. The track record of the Labour Government in Wales has also triggered some nervousness about what the party would do in Westminster. Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour says it will “turbocharge rural growth and boost Britain’s food security”, reduce red tape at the borders through a new veterinary agreement with the EU, and protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals.But it is not only Starmer’s party feeling the heat in Wales. After more than two years working in an agreement with the Labour Government to“We’re heavily reliant on agriculture here in Wales. Agriculture shapes the way Wales looks and feels.
“Europe is still our biggest customer, and we’re a very, very young player in the international market from a trading point of view for agricultural products. We need to basically make sure there’s the least friction on trade between the US and Europe as possible. Because that’s what we’re used to. We know our markets, they know our products. We’ve been in the EU since 1973.
“During the EU schemes you were told how many sheep you could keep on the mountain; that you couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that. So you’ve geared up to that over the years and all of a sudden it comes to an end, it’s a cliff edge,” he says.The EU scheme accounted for more than a quarter of Mr Pugh’s business, and he estimates he will receive only half as much under Habitat Wales, equating to a 12.5 per cent loss of income.
Hedd Pugh says he has lost 12.5 per cent of his income due to the change in environmental support schemes for farmers post-Brexit. “The community around here, it’s a very strong community of Welsh speakers. A lot goes on here. If agriculture doesn’t thrive, the community and Welsh language in the rural areas won’t survive either. We’ve got a school, a church, a chapel, a pub. It’s very important we support all that.
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