Following a meeting this morning in Llanrwst to discuss the challenges facing Welsh farmers as a result of low milk prices and the significant fall in the price paid for Welsh lamb, Guto Bebb, MP for Aberconwy, was pleased to join FUW President Glyn Roberts and the Chair of the FUW Dairy and Milk Committee, Dei Davies, in calling for constructive action to help farmers.
The price falls suffered by both lamb and dairy farmers are significant. Whilst the recent announcements for increasing the price paid by supermarkets for liquid milk is very welcome, it deals only with a small portion of the market place. Liquid milk at 28p to 30p a litre offers hope but many farmers continue to receive a maximum of 23p; with many being paid significantly less than 20p a litre. Such price levels are not sustainable. Mr Bebb has agreed to write to DEFRA Minister George Eustice MP, to see what short term support the sector can be offered whilst a long-term strategy is developed.
Both Glyn Roberts and Dei Davies welcome the decision by the Chancellor to extend farmers averaging for tax purposes from two years to five and joined with Guto Bebb in calling on farmers to ask their accountants whether the concession could be used to protect the cash-flow of farmers affected by the volatility in the market place. In addition Guto Bebb agreed to write to HM Customs and Revenue requesting that the ‘Time to Pay’ concession be invoked for the farming community.
Mr Bebb said;
“Farmers want to pay their due and if tax is owing it will be paid. However, the extreme price falls seen across dairy and lamb markets means that many farmers, expected to pay their back taxes in two annual instalments, are facing real cash-flow challenges in meeting their obligations. I have written to HM Customs and Revenue asking them to offer flexible time to pay agreements to ensure that farmers meet their obligations without putting any undue short-term pressures on their cash-flows.”
Glyn Roberts, President of the FUW said;
“Current marketplace volatility has left many producers struggling to stay afloat and the Union has received calls from members extremely worried about the future viability of their businesses. Whilst the FUW will continue to call for both a fairer supply chain and measures to manage over supply, it is also imperative that we try to find immediate solutions to halt the number of farmers going out of business. The use of more flexible agreements could go some way to help mitigate the low returns being experienced by Welsh sheep and dairy farmers.
Yn dilyn cyfarfod yn Llanrwst fore Llun i drafod yr heriau sy’n wynebu amaethwyr Cymru o ganlyniad i’r prisiau isel a delir am laeth a chig oen Cymreig roedd yn bleser gan Guto Bebb, Aelod Seneddol Aberconwy, ymuno â Glyn Roberts, Llywydd yr FUW a Dei Davies, Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Llaeth a Chynnyrch Llaeth i alw am weithredu cadarnhaol i gefnogi ffermwyr.
Mae’r gostyngiad ym mhris llaeth a chig oen yn sylweddol. Er bod croeso i’r cyhoeddiadau diweddar gan yr archfarchnadoedd eu bod am godi’r pris a delir am lefrith nid yw hyn mewn gwirionedd ond yn golygu cyfran fechan iawn o’r farchnad. Mae 28c i 30c y litr am lefrith yn obeithiol ond y gwir amdani yw bod nifer fawr o fferwmyr yn derbyn uchafswm o 23c a rhai o’r rhain yn derbyn llai na 20c y litr. Nid yw prisiau o’r fath yn gynaliadwy. Mae Guto Bebb wedi cytuno i ysgrifennu at George Eustice AS, Gweinidog DEFRA, i holi pa gefnogaeth tymor byr y gellir ei chynnig i’r sector tra bo strategaeth tymor hir yn cael ei datblygu.
Roedd Glyn Roberts a Dei Davies yn croesawu penderfyniad y Canghellor i ymestyn y cyfartalu cyfrifon a wneir gan ffermwyr o ddwy flynedd i bum mlynedd ac yn ymuno â Guto Bebb i alw ar ffermwyr i ofyn i’w cyfrifwyr a ellir defnyddio’r consesiwn i amddiffyn llif arian y rhai sy’n cael eu heffeithio gan anwadalwch y farchnad. Cytunodd Guto Bebb hefyd i ysgrifennu at Gyllid y Wlad i ofyn a fyddai modd i ffermwyr fanteisio ar y cynllun Amser i Dalu.
Dywedodd Mr Bebb:
“Mae ffermwyr eisiau cyfrannu ac os oes treth yn ddyledus bydd yn cael ei thalu. Fodd bynnag, mae’r gostyngiad sylweddol yn y prisiau maent yn eu cael am laeth ac ŵyn yn golygu bod nifer o ffermwyr oedd yn gobeithio talu eu hôl drethi mewn dau daliad blynyddol yn wynebu problemau llif arian er mwyn talu’u ffordd. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu ar Gyllid y Wlad i ofyn iddynt gynnig cytundebau talu hyblyg i sicrhau bod ffermwyr yn gallu talu’r hyn sy’n ddyledus ganddynt heb roi straen ar eu llif arian.”
Dywedodd Glyn Roberts, Llywydd yr FUW:
“Mae anwadalwch y farchnad ar hyn o bryd wedi golygu bod nifer o gynhyrchwyr yn gorfod ymdrechu’n galed i ddal ati ac mae’r Undeb wedi derbyn galwadau gan aelodau sy’n wirioneddol bryderus am ddyfodol eu busnesau. Bydd yr FUW yn parhau i alw am gadwyn gyflenwi decach ac am fesurau i reoli gor-gynhyrchu ond mae hefyd yn hollbwysig ein bod yn mynd ati ar unwaith i ganfod atebion fydd yn atal ffermwyr rhag colli eu busnesau. Byddai defnyddio cytundebau mwy hyblyg yn cyfrannu at leddfu ychydig ar effaith y prisiau isel sy’n cael eu derbyn gan fferwyr llaeth ac ŵyn yng Nghymru."