The importance of family farms and the benefits they bring to the countryside remain at the top of the agenda for the Farmers’ Union of Wales at this year’s Royal Welsh Spring Festival (16 – 17 May).
“Having supported and fought for the needs of Welsh family farms for 60 years, the union is once again highlighting the plight of those who make a living off the land here in Wales and what better place to do it than at the Spring Festival,” said FUW president Emyr Jones.
“We do need Governments to understand and appreciate the importance of those family farms. As family farmers we are passionate about the food we produce but passion alone cannot sustain our businesses.”
Mr Jones stressed that the role farming plays in maintaining our natural environment and rural communities, coupled with the importance of maintaining and strengthening those political frameworks which protect our food security, mean agriculture, and in particular the family farm, should be high up on the agenda for any Government.
The union will work with the new Westminster Government to get the best possible deal for Welsh agriculture, just as it has done since 1955 when it was first established, and is looking forward to meeting the representatives of agriculture in the near future.
“We are also raising money for our charities T? Hafan and T? Gobaith in a bid to hit the £50,000 mark by the Royal Welsh show. Visitors to our stand have the chance to win a top quality BBQ set by purchasing raffle tickets, with all the proceeds going to the charity fund ,” added Mr Jones.
Cardiff-based T? Hafan and Oswestry-based Hope House Children’s Hospices which includes T? Gobaith at Conwy will share the proceeds of the fund that will come to a close in July.
“The FUW is looking forward to welcome members and friends of the union to the stand in the South Glamorgan Hall over the course of the Spring Festival weekend,” added Mr Jones.