Welsh agricultural output

[TheRanger]

The BBC are currently running an article on Welsh agriculture, specifically Welsh lamb, with the following quote:

"About 90% of Welsh food and drink is currently exported to the EU."

Surely that cannot be the case. If so, only 10% of Welsh food and drink goes to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales itself, and the rest of the world?

 

[TheRanger]

I'm sure this must be a misquote by the BBC. Maybe they mean 90% of Welsh food and drink that is exported goes to the EU. If so that is only relevant if we know how much of Wales' food and drink is consumed domestically in the UK and how much is actually exported as a percentage of the total.

The BBC are rapidly going downhill.

 

[multi power]

The BBC are currently running an article on Welsh agriculture, specifically Welsh lamb, with the following quote:

"About 90% of Welsh food and drink is currently exported to the EU."

Surely that cannot be the case. If so, only 10% of Welsh food and drink goes to England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales itself, and the rest of the world?

England, Scotland etc is in the EU, sounds like a cunning misleading but still truthful statement

 

[Princess Pooper]

I'm sure this must be a misquote by the BBC. Maybe they mean 90% of Welsh food and drink that is exported goes to the EU. If so that is only relevant if we know how much of Wales' food and drink is consumed domestically in the UK and how much is actually exported as a percentage of the total.

The BBC are rapidly going downhill.

Probably correct, and most of that would be lamb.

 

[GTB]

How can they be allowed to make such sweeping statements without providing evidence to back them up? There are three large abattoirs in Wales. Dunbia's main customer would be Sainsbury's and St Merryn supply Tesco. Randall Parker supply Waitrose amongst many others.

Welsh milk would be almost entirely processed or consumed within the UK and there isn't that much arable and cropping to talk of.

 

[TheRanger]

England, Scotland etc is in the EU, sounds like a cunning misleading but still truthful statement

But it's not an export if it's going to the rUK as it's the same country.

Plus if that's what they meant it's even less relevant as a fact, as when Wales leaves the EU so does the rUK.

 

[TheRanger]

As @GTB says, it's a sweeping statement. It adds nothing whatsover to the debate without being qualified with regard to how much Welsh produce is consumed in Wales itself and the rUK.

The UK as a whole is only 60% self sufficient in producion of foodstuffs. Would that fact not also be relevant with regards to the BBC and their brexit debate?

 

[multi power]

But it's not an export if it's going to the rUK as it's the same country.

Plus if that's what they meant it's even less relevant as a fact, as when Wales leaves the EU so does the rUK.

You want to go and tell a Welshman that England is the same country, good luck

 

[llamedos]

source

 

[TheRanger]

You want to go and tell a Welshman that England is the same country, good luck

Goods moved within the UK aren't exported or imported.

 

[orchard]

Still not sure where evil aunty beeb got the 90pc from, haha

 

[TheRanger]

View attachment 459628 View attachment 459630 View attachment 459632

source

Thank you. Some facts.

So it's actually 5.5% of Welsh food and drink that is exported out of the UK, 90% of which goes to the EU (i.e. less than 5% of Wales' total food and drink Industry is exported into the EU).

A vastly different picture than the one the BBC painted.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I never realised I exported all my lambs before.
I guess the Welsh then export it all back...

 

[TheRanger]

 

[Campani]

Do you have a link to the article?

 

[llamedos]

Do you have a link to the article?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38668298

 

[Campani]

As a welsh (one field anyway) farmer I am a lot more concerned about a free trade deal with Australia. You don't see much Australian lamb about at the moment but their national flock is increasing. I could see a situation where Australia and new Zealand get into a competition to sell their lamb to Tesco et al.

 

[Yale]

Lies,damn lies and BBC statistics.

 

[Cowabunga]

Why the hell would the UK want a trade deal with NZ? They are a tiny market where we would sell little and gain less, yet their economy is massively dependant on agriculture and would cripple agricultural sectors in the UK due to our high cost economy. So its all loss for the UK and all gain for NZ.

You have to remember that in this brave new world that it is dog eat dog. We've got to get a ruthless mindset that puts Britain first and to hell with NZ.

 

[Johngee]

Why the hell would the UK want a trade deal with NZ? They are a tiny market where we would sell little and gain less, yet their economy is massively dependant on agriculture and would cripple agricultural sectors in the UK due to our high cost economy. So its all loss for the UK and all gain for NZ.

You have to remember that in this brave new world that it is dog eat dog. We've got to get a ruthless mindset that puts Britain first and to hell with NZ.

It seems to me that as the UK govt are turning their backs on Europe that they are almost desperate for anyone to offer them a trade deal. Also many of the Brexiteers seem to have a rose tinted view about Commonwealth countries.