Bluetongue control zone declared in Wales after four cases confirmed

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Richard Irvine, confirmed that a farm near Chepstow in Monmouthshire has active midge‑borne transmission of the disease. Further cases have since been identified at two premises in Powys, near Llangammarch Wells and Gladestry.

The affected cattle are being culled in line with the UK’s Bluetongue control strategy, and restrictions remain in place on the farms. A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) has been introduced around the Monmouthshire premises to limit livestock movements and allow further surveillance.

What is Bluetongue?

Bluetongue is a viral disease spread mainly by biting midges. It affects ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer, as well as camelids including alpacas and llamas.

• It does not affect people or food safety.
• Symptoms can include fever, lesions, redness of the mouth and nose, excessive salivation and nasal discharge, though some animals show no signs.

Control zone declared after Monmouthshire outbreak

CVO Richard Irvine said the TCZ was necessary because there was “clear evidence of active midge‑borne transmission” at the Monmouthshire farm.

“Vaccination is the best way to protect livestock and livelihoods from the worst impacts of this potentially devastating disease,” he said. “I urge animal keepers to discuss Bluetongue vaccination with their vet now.”

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Huw Irranca‑Davies added:

“Our success to this point has been crucial in buying our farmers the time they needed to vaccinate their animals and prepare for Bluetongue. Everyone needs to now play their part and help manage where Bluetongue disease is appearing.”

Farmers warn of financial hit from livestock restrictions

The Welsh Conservatives criticised the Labour Government’s handling of the outbreak. Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary Samuel Kurtz MS said farmers were already facing “significant financial losses” from movement restrictions and called for urgent financial support.

“Now is the time for practical action and for government to stand alongside our farmers,” he said.

Union urges vigilance and vaccination after first Welsh cases

NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader said the confirmation of four cases was “a concern to livestock keepers but not surprising” given the spread across the border.

She urged farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on 0300 303 8268, and to discuss vaccination with their vets.

At a glance: Bluetongue in Wales

• 📍 Cases confirmed: 1 in Monmouthshire, 2 in Powys
• 🐄 Animals affected: Cattle (culled under control strategy)
• 🦟 Transmission: Mainly via biting midges
• 👩‍⚕️ Advice: Farmers urged to vaccinate and report suspected cases
• 🚫 Impact on people: No risk to humans or food safety

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Senedd rejects call for final vote on farming support scheme

Senedd members have narrowly voted against a proposal to hold a final, binding vote on the Welsh Government’s controversial Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), despite widespread calls for greater scrutiny and democratic legitimacy.

The motion—tabled by Welsh Conservative MS Samuel Kurtz, shadow secretary for economy, energy and rural affairs—was defeated by 22 votes to 20 in the final session before the summer recess. It called for the Senedd to formally approve the scheme before its implementation in January 2026, citing concerns over transparency, trust, and the future of Welsh agriculture.

“A scheme of this scale, affecting over 80% of Wales’ land, must carry democratic legitimacy,” Kurtz told the chamber. “Let us vote. Let the elected members of this chamber, from every corner of Wales and from every party, have their say.”

Farming unions back scrutiny

The motion was backed by Plaid Cymru and supported by both NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales, who described the SFS as a “once-in-a-generation change” that demands full Senedd scrutiny.

NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said Welsh farming underpins a food sector worth £9.3 billion, employs nearly 50,000 people directly, and supports 230,000 jobs across the supply chain. He warned that the transition from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) to the SFS could have significant economic consequences.

“For every £1 of public money invested through the BPS, £9 is returned to the Welsh economy,” Jones said. “The SFS must work for all farming sectors and areas of Wales and help ensure that Welsh farming can continue to underpin our rural communities, language and culture.”

FUW President Ian Rickman echoed those concerns, calling the scheme a “generational milestone” and urging ministers to ensure it is workable for family farms across Wales.

Welsh Government defends revised plans

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who now leads on climate change and rural affairs, defended the scheme as the product of “extensive collaboration” following years of consultation and protest. He confirmed that Senedd members will have the opportunity to vote on regulations related to payment rates later this year.

“You can have your say then,” he said. “If you want to force more delay, if you want to force more uncertainty on the farming community, good luck to you—because they will not thank you.”

The revised scheme drops the previous requirement for 10% tree cover on every farm, a proposal that sparked mass protests and led to 5,500 pairs of wellies being placed on the steps of the Senedd last year. The Welsh Government now aims to plant 17,000 hectares by 2030, with enhanced payments for early adopters and flexibility on productive land.

Former rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths said the scheme must deliver “public goods for public money,” including improved soil health, woodland management, and biodiversity outcomes.

Transparency and food security concerns

As previously reported by Swansea Bay News, the final version of the SFS was unveiled earlier this month amid calls for greater transparency and assurances around food security. Farming leaders warned that the scheme’s emphasis on environmental outcomes must not come at the expense of food production or economic viability.

The Welsh Government has argued that the SFS represents a “radical shift” away from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, tailored to Welsh needs. But critics say the scheme mirrors England’s Environmental Land Management model and risks placing “an inherent weakness at the heart of future policies.”

“We firmly believe that public goods are only a part of the picture,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts. “A more imaginative Welsh way forward should be forged.”

Plaid Cymru’s Llŷr Gruffydd has also warned that removing basic income support could push family farms “off a cliff without a safety net,” while uncertainty around trade, budget levels, and cheap imports continues to cloud the sector’s future.

Political tensions rise

The debate also exposed deepening divisions between the Welsh Government and farming unions. Labour MS Lee Waters accused some union leaders of amplifying grievance narratives and said the sector had been drawn into “culture wars.”

“I’ve stopped attending union meetings on farms,” Waters said. “The farming unions are the only groups I’ve come across who think effective engagement involves inviting a local representative to meet a group of men to be shouted at.”

Waters also warned that Brexit had left Wales with £1 billion less in funding, and that farming support must now compete with health and education within the Welsh budget.

“I’m not sure how people who voted for Wales to get less money now argue that we should spend even more on farming support. This is unserious.”

What’s next?

The Welsh Government says the SFS will be implemented in January 2026, replacing the BPS, which will be phased out by 2029. Farmers who do not join the SFS will see their BPS payments cut by 40% next year, prompting warnings of a “cliff-edge” for rural businesses.

Opposition parties say the lack of a full economic impact assessment and long-term funding clarity risks undermining confidence in the scheme. Kurtz described the current approach as a “blind leap of faith” and said trust between Labour and the agricultural sector is at an all-time low.

“Labour have simply rebranded a bad policy and hoped farmers wouldn’t notice,” he said. “By voting against our call for a binding Senedd vote, they’ve ignored an opportunity to rebuild trust.”

The next phase of the scheme will be subject to regulatory votes in the autumn, but calls for a broader debate on the future of Welsh farming are unlikely to fade.

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Carmarthenshire dairy farmers cleared of £360,000 fine after Home Office raid

A dairy farming family from St Clears has been cleared of wrongdoing following a high-profile dispute with the Home Office, which had accused them of employing undocumented workers and issued a £360,000 civil penalty.

The case centred on Siôn and Audrey Davies, who run Coomb Farm, one of Carmarthenshire’s largest dairy operations with around 800 cows and 2,200 head of cattle. The penalty stemmed from a raid in 2023, when 20–30 immigration officers and police arrived unannounced and arrested eight Romanian workers at the farm.

Speaking after the ordeal, the Davieses said the enforcement action was “wholly disproportionate” and described how the raid left them scrambling to keep the farm operational. With staff detained and transport vehicles seized, they were left severely short-handed just as calving season approached.

In May 2025, the case was heard at Swansea County Court, where Judge Beard ruled the family had not breached immigration law and overturned the fine entirely. Legal representation was provided by HCR Law, whose team argued the Home Office’s allegations did not stand up to scrutiny and posed an unjust burden on a legitimate farming business.

The case has highlighted wider concerns about how immigration enforcement is impacting Welsh agriculture. According to HCR Law, at least a dozen similar cases have surfaced in West Wales, with several resulting in legal proceedings or fines. They’ve advised other farming businesses—particularly in dairy, arable, and horticulture sectors—to review their employment and compliance practices to avoid unexpected scrutiny.

The outcome comes as many Carmarthenshire farms face a shifting landscape for rural employment. The sector has long relied on seasonal and migrant labour, and with rising costs and regulatory pressures, farm owners say it’s becoming harder to recruit and retain skilled staff. The Davies family expressed relief but warned that others might not have the legal resources to challenge similar enforcement actions.

The NFU Cymru has also weighed in, calling for clearer guidance and improved communication between regulators and farming businesses. They argue that the reputational and operational damage caused by raids—even when accusations prove unfounded—can be devastating.

#Carmarthenshire #DairyFarming #Farming #immigration #NFUCymru #StClears