PLAID have moved to try to block legislation which local MS Elin Jones has called “excessive, with huge cost implications to farms across Ceredigion”.

The Welsh Government’s decision to place the whole of Wales under a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone has been called in by Plaid Cymru, with local MS calling this “a vital time for agriculture in Ceredigion”.

The proposal will now be voted on in the Senedd on Wednesday, 3 March.

Plaid Cymru will lead this debate and, if successful, the regulations will not come into force in April.

Llyr Gruffydd MS, Plaid Cymru’s farming spokesperson, has called the decision a U-turn on the promises made to farmers over the last year by the Agriculture Minister, who had repeated several times that it would be inappropriate and insensitive to introduce the NVZ regulations during a global pandemic.

The plans by the Labour government have also met opposition from farming unions and the Conservatives.

Ceredigion’s Welsh Conservative Senedd Candidate, Amanda Jenner, said:"The plan will come at a considerable cost to farmers; what we need is meaningful consultation with the agricultural community, followed by a piloted and staged approach, which ensures that farmers are adequately supported as they move in this direction. The Minister has not listened to the farming community and this decision has not only betrayed them, but could do more damage than good, should it lead to mass spreading during a shorter period, no matter the suitability of conditions.”

Elin Jones, Ceredigion MS, said: “In a vital time for agriculture in Ceredigion. Our industry faces unique challenges over the next few months and years. We have funding cuts of £137million to the Welsh agriculture budget by the Conservative UK Government, TB continues to paralyse and place burdens on so many farms and Brexit and the Coronavirus have created much uncertainty and disrupted normal market conditions.

“The Welsh Government’s recent decision to impose Nitrate Vulnerable Zone legislation across the whole of Wales from 1 April is excessive, with huge cost implications to farms across Ceredigion.

“We know that Natural Resources Wales has said that only 8 per cent of Wales needs to be included as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in order to eliminate water pollution. NRW has also previously advised against implementing the legislation in all parts of Wales, warning it could make pollution worse and have severe resource implications.

“I have arranged an online event to discuss these issues with farmers in Ceredigion following the vote in the Senedd, where I will be able to report on the debate. Ben Lake MP and Dafydd Llywelyn, Police and Crime Commissioner, will also be present to discuss Westminster and rural crime issues, as well as Cefin Campbell, Senedd candidate for Mid and West Wales.”

The meeting will take place over Zoom at 7.30pm. To register for this event, go to plaidceredigion.wales/ffermio2021