Catalogue description Records of the Agriculture Divisions

In April 1969 agriculture and fisheries matters in Wales became the Welsh Office's responsibility jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. From April 1978 the Welsh Office assumed sole responsibility for agriculture and fisheries matters in Wales. There were four divisional agriculture offices, inherited from the Ministry of Agriculture, at Carmarthen, Llandrindod Wells, Ruthin and Caernarvon.

Welsh Office, Agriculture Department, 1978-1999

The Agriculture Department was, until 1 April 1978, part of the regional organisation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) with its Welsh headquarters located at Aberystwyth.

The new department comprised four divisions (General Agricultural Policy Division; Animal Health, Land and Labour Division; Commodities Division; and Structure, Grants and Drainage Division) and the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.

The Agriculture Department produced records concerning the co-ordination of general agricultural policy for Welsh regions (including the Common Agricultural Policy in Wales and other European Economic Community schemes); animal health, welfare, livestock improvement, meat hygiene, slaughter house policy, matters relating to the veterinary profession and veterinary medicines; land and labour policy, land use, forestry, smallholdings, labour questions including training, wages and tied cottages; structure grants and drainage policy, farm structure and capital grants, less favoured areas directive, marginal land; arterial and field drainage; commodities policy including livestock and arable commodities, milk and milk products, regulations on milk and dairies, poultry and eggs, potatoes, horticulture, seeds, plant health and the Agricultural Land Tribunal; Agricultural Development and advisory services as agents for the Secretary of State for Wales.