WALES' farming minister will travel to Pembrokeshire next week to discuss his proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payment system.

Alun Davies, the Minister for Natural Resources and Food, is taking part in a series of meetings with farmers to set out his proposals for how the basic payment system for farmers under CAP Pillar 1 should work after January 2015.

The minister said: "I know how important CAP is to the industry and how crucial it is to the future of Welsh agriculture. That is why I have fought so hard to get the best possible deal for our farmers.

"We now have a good idea of what the new CAP will look like and I have set out my proposals for how payments under CAP Pillar 1 should be made to farmers in Wales after January 2015. I want to know what people think of these proposals before I take any final decisions."

Proposals include:

A five year transition to an area-based payment system by 2019, founded on land regions that recognise the different characteristics and productivity of different land types.

A pragmatic approach to greening using the permanent pasture, arable crop and ecological focus areas proposed by Europe, rather than creating a Wales-only scheme.

A robust approach to capping large payments that will go beyond Europe's mandatory requirements and a 100% cap on payments over 300,000

Possible transfer of budget from Pillar 1 (direct payments to farmers) to Pillar 2 (Rural Development Plan) in exchange for the minimal approach to greening, to provide support for actions that benefit the natural environment and climate change, and also to fund actions to help make farming businesses sustainable.

The consultation on the proposals has now been extended until November 8th.

The meeting in Pembrokeshire will take place on October 3rd at 7.30pm at the Nantyffin Hotel, Llandissilio.

To register your attendance at the meeting, contact Einir Davies at Menter a Busnes on 01970 636297.