Latest news with #SamuelKurtz
Western Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Call from Senedd members over final say on farming support
Samuel Kurtz, the Conservatives' shadow rural affairs secretary, led a debate on the protest-plagued proposals for the sustainable farming scheme (SFS) on July 16. He said: 'Today, we're simply asking that this Senedd be given the opportunity to vote: a final, binding vote on the sustainable farming scheme before it is implemented. We all remember last year's protests. We know the strength of feeling across the country. 'A scheme of this scale, affecting over 80% of Wales' land, must carry democratic legitimacy. Let us vote. Let the elected members of this chamber, from every corner of Wales and from every party, have their say.' The former journalist, who is from a farming family, warned of a 'cliff-edge' in the transition from the basic payment scheme (BPS), which is set to fall by 40 per cent, to the SFS. He said: "If you don't join the SFS, you forfeit your BPS. If you do join the SFS, you forfeit your BPS entitlements. There's no going back… for you and your business. Is it any wonder anxiety is soaring? Is it any surprise that our farmers' mental health is deteriorating?' Labour's Lesley Griffiths, a former rural affairs minister, was extremely disappointed to see Welsh ministers cut a target of 43,000 hectares of new woodland by more than 60 per cent, with plans for 10 per cent tree cover on every farm ditched. Peter Fox, a Tory council leader-turned Senedd member, said he was planning to retire as a farmer having 'just about had enough', with the new SFS 'still laden with bureaucracy'. 'Most farmers just want to farm,' he said. 'They want to produce food and they want to look after their farm… but the priority in this SFS is clearly no longer food production.' Labour's Lee Waters warned the debate around farming has been dragged into 'culture wars', with divisions heightened by political debate. Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said Senedd members would get an opportunity to vote on regulations related to payment rates underpinning the scheme in the autumn. In the final vote before the Welsh Parliament breaks for summer recess, Senedd members voted narrowly, 22-20, against the opposition motion
South Wales Argus
20-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Call from Senedd members over final say on farming support
Samuel Kurtz, the Conservatives' shadow rural affairs secretary, led a debate on the protest-plagued proposals for the sustainable farming scheme (SFS) on July 16. He said: 'Today, we're simply asking that this Senedd be given the opportunity to vote: a final, binding vote on the sustainable farming scheme before it is implemented. We all remember last year's protests. We know the strength of feeling across the country. 'A scheme of this scale, affecting over 80% of Wales' land, must carry democratic legitimacy. Let us vote. Let the elected members of this chamber, from every corner of Wales and from every party, have their say.' The former journalist, who is from a farming family, warned of a 'cliff-edge' in the transition from the basic payment scheme (BPS), which is set to fall by 40 per cent, to the SFS. He said: "If you don't join the SFS, you forfeit your BPS. If you do join the SFS, you forfeit your BPS entitlements. There's no going back… for you and your business. Is it any wonder anxiety is soaring? Is it any surprise that our farmers' mental health is deteriorating?' Labour's Lesley Griffiths, a former rural affairs minister, was extremely disappointed to see Welsh ministers cut a target of 43,000 hectares of new woodland by more than 60 per cent, with plans for 10 per cent tree cover on every farm ditched. Peter Fox, a Tory council leader-turned Senedd member, said he was planning to retire as a farmer having 'just about had enough', with the new SFS 'still laden with bureaucracy'. 'Most farmers just want to farm,' he said. 'They want to produce food and they want to look after their farm… but the priority in this SFS is clearly no longer food production.' Labour's Lee Waters warned the debate around farming has been dragged into 'culture wars', with divisions heightened by political debate. Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said Senedd members would get an opportunity to vote on regulations related to payment rates underpinning the scheme in the autumn. In the final vote before the Welsh Parliament breaks for summer recess, Senedd members voted narrowly, 22-20, against the opposition motion
Western Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
‘Alarm bells' over revamped farming scheme
Samuel Kurtz, the Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary, warned of broken trust over the heavily criticised and protest-plagued sustainable farming scheme. Ponting to a poll showing only three per cent of farmers trust Labour Welsh ministers, he said the industry waited more than seven years for clarity on replacements for EU subsidies. Mr Kurtz, who is from a farming family, criticised plans to cut the basic payment scheme (BPS) by 40 per cent for those who choose not to sign up to the SFS. He said: 'This reflects what would have happened had the SFS launched in 2025 but it didn't launch… so, now farmers are being punished for that failure.' He expressed concerns about the total £340m budget which would be worth closer to £500m if it had increased with inflation. He suggested the revised SFS prioritises tree planting over food security. Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales' deputy first minister, said: 'We've analysed the potential impacts of the scheme and that has helped us make the decisions that we've come to." He told the Senedd an impact assessment will be published in September.
South Wales Argus
18-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
‘Alarm bells' over revamped farming scheme
Samuel Kurtz, the Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary, warned of broken trust over the heavily criticised and protest-plagued sustainable farming scheme. Ponting to a poll showing only three per cent of farmers trust Labour Welsh ministers, he said the industry waited more than seven years for clarity on replacements for EU subsidies. Mr Kurtz, who is from a farming family, criticised plans to cut the basic payment scheme (BPS) by 40 per cent for those who choose not to sign up to the SFS. He said: 'This reflects what would have happened had the SFS launched in 2025 but it didn't launch… so, now farmers are being punished for that failure.' He expressed concerns about the total £340m budget which would be worth closer to £500m if it had increased with inflation. He suggested the revised SFS prioritises tree planting over food security. Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales' deputy first minister, said: 'We've analysed the potential impacts of the scheme and that has helped us make the decisions that we've come to." He told the Senedd an impact assessment will be published in September.
South Wales Guardian
26-06-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
First bird flu outbreaks for two years in south and north Wales
Protection zones mean stricter measures are in force in the area to contain the disease, while in the wider surveillance zones some restrictions may apply to movement. One of those affected is a smallholding in Roch, Pembrokeshire. Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said: 'These are concerning developments and I urge all farmers and poultry keepers to be vigilant. 'I've requested a briefing from the Deputy First Minister and Wales' Chief Vet to better understand the situation as we approach the summer season of agricultural shows. 'The agricultural industry is under immense strain at present so it's important that the Welsh Government supports the sector properly as it looks to isolate the disease and reduce the spread.'
