Mid Wales farmers given £500,000 aid to bury livestock
Farmers in Mid Wales have been given a £500,000 boost and an extra week to bury dead livestock lost in the recent snow.
The plan has been unveiled by Alun Davies, the Welsh Assembly's minister for natural resources and food.
But Russell George, Montgomeryshire AM, said the decision to give agricultural charities the money to hand out to the worst hit farmers, is almost too little, too late.
Mr George said Mr Davies should have made the decision to offer the financial aid sooner. He said: "While the announcement of the extension of the derogation and additional financial assistance is of course welcome it is very little and very late – to call this a belated turnaround would be extremely generous.
"Farmers currently battling for their livelihoods may gratefully receive this assistance – but will rightly question why it is has taken this long for the minister to change his mind. Until the full impact is known, I still believe more support cannot be ruled out. Many farmers are struggling to keep their businesses alive and the full extent of infrastructure damage and livestock loss numbers in not yet known.
"I pressed Mr Davies to remain open to deploying further measures of support until the full impact is known."
Mr Davies said farmers can now bury dead livestock on their land until April 23. He said: "Following discussions, I intend to make a total of £500,000 available to those charities to help them with their work.
"This aid will be targeted at those areas which have suffered the worst of the severe weather. I will be offering £100,000 to the Farming Community Network and £150,000 to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. I will also making £250,000 available to the Addington Trust for short-term support to those least able to meet these costs."
