The Farmers’ Union of Wales is putting the spotlight on what matters most to Welsh farmers during this year’s Royal Welsh Agricultural show (July 20 – 23) by focusing strongly on farmgate prices for lamb, beef and dairy produce, farm safety and livestock welfare.
The union is set to highlight the impact of falling meat and dairy prices and call for greater domestic support for Welsh produce during meetings with major retailers and politicians and put the spotlight on procurement and prices during the show week.
With farmgate prices for lamb having seen a major reduction over a period of months, and beef and milk prices following a similar trend, the FUW is warning that domestic support for Welsh and British produce is critical.
“Farmers are extremely frustrated by the lack of support by the food industry for Welsh and British produce after it was pledged following the horsemeat scandal. Our produce is still being displaced by imported produce and prices have fallen dramatically,” said FUW president Glyn Roberts.
“We have already been in correspondence and meetings with major retailers, and have further meetings lined up over the Royal Welsh Show week.
“We will also be highlighting our concerns to numerous ministers and politicians in meetings during the week at the show,” he added.
The FUW is also throwing its support behind the Farmers Guardian ‘Take the Lead’ campaign and visitors to the FUW pavilion can pick up free campaign signs which have proven so popular over the past year.
Farmers Guardian news and business editor Ben Briggs, who will be on hand to discuss the wider issues of responsible dog ownership on Monday July 20, said: "Take the Lead was launched in spring 2014 to raise the profile of livestock worrying by dogs among the general public.
"The campaign has been a huge success; with more than 45,000 Take the Lead gatepost signs sent out to farmers across Wales, England and Scotland.
"It has also secured a raft of wider media attention, including coverage on the Radio 2 Jeremy Vine Show, a host of local radio stations and wide ranging articles in dog magazines which speak directly to pet owners about the real danger their animals pose to sheep and cattle if they are not kept on a lead."
“Tuesday (July 21) we are putting the spotlight on health and safety on farm and St John’s ambulance will be with us to provide information to farmers on their first aid for farmer’s mobile phone app,” added Mr Roberts.
The union has been a long standing supporter and partner of the farm safety charter and will continue to highlight best practises to stay safe on farm during the course of the day.
“We are further looking forward to Ofcom joining us for a meeting to discuss mobile phone coverage in Wales on Tuesday July 21 at 11am and representatives from each of the mobile network operators – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone will join us to discuss mobile phone coverage issues in rural Wales and plans for improvement,” said Mr Roberts.
The union will also be highlighting the need to have the regulations for carcass splitting changed in order to reduce the current burden on the UK sheep sector and to provide controls which are more proportionate to the risks entailed.
“We will continue to highlight our plight in discussions with industry officials and government to have regulations for carcass splitting changed in order to reduce the current burden on the UK sheep sector and to provide controls which are more proportionate to the risks entailed,” added Mr Roberts.