4. Will the Minister make a statement on Welsh Government support for farm diversification? OQ57387

Thank you. The Welsh Government is committed to supporting all businesses in Wales. Business Wales and Farming Connect support farm businesses to become more efficient, profitable and resilient. Support is tailored according to customer need and the different regions of Wales, dependent on requirements.

So, with regard to my supplementary that I'm about to raise, the Minister has been very helpful in dealing with this issue in the past, and, unfortunately, we're now in a position where it's got worse recently. There's an ongoing issue at Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm in my constituency, where a large dairy farm has diversified into both food recycling, for which it's got a contract with several nearby local authorities, including Caerphilly, and mineral extraction from a quarry on site. The process has caused concern to residents in the nearby villages of Gelligaer, Penybryn and Nelson over the years, and it's mainly due to noise, dust and odour pollution, and the related HGV traffic problems. I meet regularly with residents, with key stakeholders, such as Caerphilly council, Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales and the operators, Bryn Group, in a formal committee managed setting to try and manage the situation. But what would be helpful is if I could have a meeting with the Minister to talk about some of the key issues that are associated with this very diverse farm and look at what may be done on some of the specific issues that I've mentioned to try and alleviate the problems for residents in the new year.  

Thank you. You've clearly met with the correct stakeholders. Obviously, Natural Resources Wales and local authorities have got a range of powers and enforcement tools to address the environmental impacts you referred to and, clearly, you've raised your concerns with them. I'm very happy to meet with the Member. It would be good also, I think, to have a joint meeting with the Minister for Climate Change, because obviously some of the issues you raised lie within her portfolio. Certainly, I'd be very happy to do that. 

Thank you. 

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Weinidog, similar to Hefin David, I've raised this case with you before, the case of the Jenkins family in Model Farm in Rhoose. This beef and arable farm has diversified into growing wild flowers and selling the seeds, and it's also led to an increase in bees, pollinators and other insects in their fields. All of this will be decimated as the landlords, Legal and General, kick them off the land to build an industrial estate. I was very pleased to hear in your response to my colleague Llyr Huws Gruffydd that you met recently with the Tenant Farmers Association. What support can you give to tenant farmers, like the Jenkins family, to help them continue to diversify? Diolch yn fawr. 

As I mentioned in my earlier answer to Hefin David—in my tabled answer—we provide a range of support. The majority of our support—I'm just trying to think if any of it isn't—is available to tenant farmers just as much as landowners. So, I'm sure if they perhaps contact Farming Connect in the first instance, to make sure they are addressing all the business support that is available to them, that might be a good place to start.