Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals released today by the European Commission would have a catastrophic impact on Welsh dairy farming in the first year of their implementation, according to Farmers’ Union of Wales dairy committee chairman Eifion Huws.

Under the proposals, Welsh payments per hectare would see a 40 per cent shift away from values based upon historical payments.

“This would mean a huge fall in income for many dairy farmers in 2014 so there is a real need to change this as well as other measures in the proposals,” said Mr Huws.

“Only a few years ago the EC were talking about measures to ensure a ‘soft landing’ for the dairy industry in the run up to the abolition of milk quotas.

“Yet these latest proposals would wash away any effect the quota regime soft-landing provisions provide for dairy farms.

“These proposals would mean anything but a soft landing for farm businesses - for most it would be more like being dropped from a great height.”

Mr Huws said any transition away from the historic entitlement value to a flat-rate payment must be gradual and over a lengthy period.

“We have already raised these concerns with members of the EU Agriculture Committee and the European Commission and over the coming months we will continue our efforts to fight for the interests of Wales’ dairy farmers."