Eleanor Burnham: Calls for action to help young farmers in Wales (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Eleanor Burnham: Calls for action to help young farmers in Wales

January 15, 2010 10:04 AM

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales has today called on the Minister for Rural Affairs to do more to help young farmers in Wales.

"In order to ensure a healthy economy, population and environment we must better promote and support our Welsh farming industry," said the North Wales AM.

"With six out of every seven British hill farmers having no identified successor and the average age of farmers in Wales at 58, we must turn farming into a profitable and thriving industry and make sure that this way of life does not die out with this generation. The farming industry and government must act without delay to attract younger people into agriculture.

"There is no doubt young people are making an impact on the farming industry in Wales and in recent weeks we have seen Daphne Tilley, a supplier of lamb to many UK restaurants including Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Restaurant from Denbigh, made a joint winner of the recent NFU Top Woman Farmer Award. And Iestyn Russell, a FUW bursary winner has made an impact with his excellent proposals to increase opportunities for young farmers in Wales, including a suggestion to introduce a succession scheme which I agree would make the process of changing the people who manage or own a farm a more straight forward and less expensive experience.

"Young people are prepared to take on the responsibility of farming and whilst I welcome the government's support for young farmers to be mentored by an experienced farmer, I believe more must be done to provide young farmers with opportunity and investment to ensure a secure future for rural Wales."