Why 5,500 wellies have been placed on the steps of Welsh parliament

Thousands of wellington boots have been placed on the steps of the Senedd on Wednesday to protest against Welsh government plans.

The display of 5,500 wellies was organised by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru.

Industry leaders are opposed to government proposals which would require farms to meet a series of environmental obligations in return for financial support.

These include ensuring land has 10% tree cover and 10% earmarked for natural habitat.

Last week, thousands of farmers protested outside the Welsh parliament in Cardiff Bay, calling for the proposals to be dropped.

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The sustainable farming scheme (SFS) would replace the basic payment scheme, which the Welsh government says is coming to an end after Brexit.

Farming unions are concerned about the impact of the proposals on the future of the industry in Wales.

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Jobs at risk

The Welsh government’s own impact assessment show that 5,500 agricultural jobs could be lost if plans are approved.

The government says the proposals are subject to consultation.

Abi Reader, NFU Cymru’s deputy president, told Sky News on the steps of the Senedd that the union wanted people to “fully grasp exactly what [the proposals were] going to mean for rural communities”.

“There’s wellies here of all shapes and sizes, representing people who’ve been in the industry a long time, but also representing our next generation,” she said.

Ms Reader said there were several other options farmers could look at when it comes to protecting the environment, including how they feed their livestock.

“We just seem to be focused on this very, very blunt instrument which is a tree, and there are so many other things,” she added.

“We just want a suite of options. We’re not discounting anything, but let’s just try and make it where every business has got an opportunity to survive and grow.”

‘A long way to go’

There was still “a long way to go” to reach an agreement with the Welsh government, according to Ms Reader and the ongoing Welsh Labour leadership race was a “chance to reset the clock”.

“This argument has got quite strong and we just need someone to come forward who can be calm, offer some direction, offer some commitment to rural communities and to show that we’re noticed,” she said.

“I think a lot of farmers feel that they’re very invisible at the moment […] and we just want a first minister who will have faith in us that we can deliver if we work together.”

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The Welsh government has previously said it’s “committed to supporting a successful future for Welsh farming”.

Outgoing first minister Mark Drakeford acknowledged last week that the sector was “facing significant challenges”.

“We continue to listen carefully to the concerns expressed by farmers and farming unions, including about some of the Welsh government’s policies,” he added.

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