Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:50 pm on 14 October 2020.
For me, the concern is that there's a real risk of our farmers being negatively portrayed. Poultry producers are highly monitored and routinely inspected, but it must also be acknowledged that when applying for IPUs, applicants have to undertake steps such as conservation plans, manure management plans, and pollution prevention plans. The River Axe catchment in Devon has used a three-year regulatory farm visit campaign to undertake advice-led regulatory audits. These visits led to infrastructure improvements. In fact, every pound spent by the Environment Agency in regulatory visits resulted in investment of £33 for infrastructure improvements. Will you look to support farmers where they wish to invest in relevant infrastructure improvements, and confirm that any future actions will not only be in relation to agriculture, but will tackle issues like warm water temperatures and sewage treatment works too?