North Wales summit warns of pressure facing upland farmers
Representatives from four UK farming unions met in Eryri to discuss drought, wildfires, falling livestock numbers and the pressures facing upland communities.
Farming unions from across the UK have met in North Wales to discuss the future of upland farming, following a summer of drought and major wildfires.
Representatives from NFU Cymru, the NFU, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers’ Union gathered in Eryri for a two-day summit, including a visit to a farm at Cae Haidd in Nebo.
The unions say falling livestock numbers are a growing concern for food security, while farmers are also dealing with rising costs and extreme weather.
Wildfires were a major focus, with the unions saying livestock grazing and active management of the land can help reduce the amount of vegetation available to fuel fires.
They also discussed the different farming policies being introduced across the four nations, as well as pressures from rewilding, species reintroduction and decarbonisation.
The unions say keeping people farming in upland areas is important for maintaining rural communities and the landscapes they manage.
They are calling on governments across the UK to ensure agricultural policy takes account of the particular challenges faced by upland farmers.