00:00Questions from the party spokespeople now, Conservative spokesperson Samuel Kirch.
00:30So, in the spirit of Christmas, Merry Christmas in advance to you as well, Sam.
00:37And we recognise there has been a declining trend in domestic beef and sheep populations across the UK over the last 20 years, and you will be aware of this.
00:48And whilst beef and sheep populations' numbers have declined, production has actually remained stable since 2008.
00:55Now, livestock numbers, as you know, are driven not by government, but actually by the market.
01:01They can be attributed to a wide variety of factors, including changes to agricultural support schemes, wider economic policy, efficiency gains, and incomes from beef and sheep farms remaining relatively low compared to other farm sector.
01:14Now, the Welsh Government, Agriculture and Horticulture June survey was released on the 9th of December.
01:20Headline figures show a slight increase in the total number of sheep and lamb in Wales.
01:24Whilst there was a small fall in the total number of cattle and calves in Wales, no significant changes from 2024.
01:31What I would say to you, Sam, is there is nothing within our sustainable farming scheme that says that the numbers of livestock will be driven down.
01:44This actually gives the ability and the autonomy to Welsh farmers to grow grass and to forage and make the most of the land that we have.
01:51Well, that was a very long-winded answer to not give an answer.
01:56But we do know where you stand, Deputy First Minister, and we know where your Labour colleagues stand.
02:01We know where Plaid Cymru stands and the Liberal Democrats stand, because all of you voted in favour of the climate change carbon budget regulations just two weeks ago.
02:09Those regulations explicitly support the UK Climate Change Committee's fourth carbon budget, which clearly states that achieving net zero by 2050, quote, requires reductions in livestock numbers.
02:24You supported that.
02:25They supported that.
02:26The Liberals, Plaid, all of you supported that.
02:29So why does the Welsh Government want Welsh livestock farmers, producers of some of the highest quality, most traceable and sustainable food in the world, to produce less?
02:41It seems you're labouring under some misapprehension here, Sam, because the pathway set out by the Climate Change Committee is not Welsh Government policy.
02:50The ambition and the target is not only Welsh Government policy, but this Senedd's desired intent as well.
02:58And that's because this Senedd has voted, Sam, not to walk away from our climate change ambitions, unlike the Conservative Party, who are now washing their hands of it and seem to be saying, well, this is all too difficult.
03:10Well, I'm sorry, but some of the predecessors in the Conservative Party were much more resolute in sticking to the plate.
03:16So it's for us to determine, Sam, through the support through the SFS, through what we do with Hubby Keep Cymru, through what we do with investment in red meat and livestock sector, through our investment in good green pasture land, to make sure that we sustain that sector and also have the throughput that we need as well.
03:34But it is noticeable that the Conservatives, and thank you for reminding us, voted against that climate change budget.
03:42I mean, that's a notable moment in time, I have to say, when you have turned 180 degrees and you are washing your hand now of the need to give farmers the ability to resist the ravages of climate change.
03:55Voting records never lie, and our voting record voted against the Sustainable Farming Scheme, it voted against the Climate Change Regulations, because we voted against the UK Climate Change Committee's recommendations to destock.
04:09We do not believe that Welsh agriculture needs to lose livestock numbers to continue to be the very best in the world, because let's also remember that there are expectations for livestock numbers to be cut within the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
04:24Your own analysis says so, but the scheme is due to start in only two weeks' time, and only today we've had further details on the universal tier be published.
04:36This isn't last-minute Christmas shopping by the government, it's last-minute decision-making that farmers are expected to adapt to.
04:44So, Deputy First Minister, are you genuinely confident that from the 1st of January, two weeks' time, everything will be fully in place?
04:51From RPW systems, data mapping, guidance administration, everything is ready for those farmers who wish to sign up to the SFS.
04:59And how many farmers do you expect to sign up to the SFS?
05:01Yes, is the answer to that. All the work we've done over the last 12 and 18 months in partnership, I have to say, with all those stakeholders, including the farming unions, the TFA, the environmental NGOs, whatever, plus all the work of my officials, has made sure that we are ready to go.
05:18But I recognise that the Conservatives have done everything in their power to try and undermine this way forward.
05:23A way forward that is good for the vitality of Welsh farming gives them certainty and security going forward.
05:29And all the Conservatives can do, time after time again, is try and undermine this position and put forward...
05:36I'm trying to remember the right initials now, but the F, the F, S, F instead of the S, F, S, it is ludicrous, Sam, it is ludicrous.
05:47So everything will be in place.
05:48And simply to say, just to counter once again, if I haven't said it often enough,
05:53when you say within the Sustainable Farming Scheme that it's actually going to lead to livestock numbers reduction,
05:59can I repeat once again, for crystal clarity, before we get to the Christmas break, it is modelling and scenarios.
06:06What the SFS does is it puts in the power of farmers with the lush green pasture land that we have,
06:12that lends itself to good rearing and good soil health and good production of red meat.
06:17It is in their ability then to actually stock according to what they think is appropriate.
06:22So you are, let me say, how do I say this charitably in the run-up to Christmas?
06:27Analysis.
06:27Peddling misinformation around the SFS and trying to undermine it.
06:32It will be ready for delivery and we will continue to work with all of the stakeholders to bring this forward.
