COMMENTING on the new Glastir agri-environment scheme following a visit to two typical Meirionnydd hill farms with the Assembly’s Rural Development Committee, Brynle Williams AM, Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, said:

"I have serious concerns that such little progress has been made in confirming the details of Glastir.

"Farmers are being asked to tick boxes on their SFP application to show interest, but there are no clear details on what they are signing up to.

"This scheme will be based on total farm acreage, so a typical hill farm may get a certain number of points for one area, but lose out on the rest of the holding.

"Capital works under Tir Gofal supported a range of new rural businesses, many set up by farmers’ sons, in hedge-laying, fencing and tree-felling.

"Without a capital works element in Glastir, these businesses may well disappear from the countryside, and the younger generation with them.

Mr Williams added:

"Farmers need to start preparing for Glastir now, and the Assembly Government urgently needs to provide clarity.

"If officials can’t to do this, then they must consider delaying the implementation of the scheme until it is ready to be rolled out."