Farmers’ Union of Wales Meirionnydd beef and sheep farmer Geraint Davies has been appointed as the chairman of the FUW’s Younger Voice for Farming committee.
Together with his wife Rachael, he farms at Fedw Arian Uchaf, Rhyduchaf, Y Bala.An organic farm since 2005, it has been in the Glastir Entry scheme since 2013 and in the Advanced scheme since 2014.
The land, which lies approximately 900 feet above sea level, with much of it reaching up to 2200 feet, extends to 1200 acres, being mostly mountain land with approximately 200 acres of lower land, of which 70 acres is being kept to produce silage every year.
Here Geraint and Rachael keep 1000 Welsh mountain ewes and a Welsh Mountain Ram, which is turned out to the majority, while approximately 300 ewes are crossed with an Innovis Aberfield ram. The couple now sell their organic lambs to Dunbia.
There is also a commercial herd of 40 suckler cows, the majority of which are Welsh Black Pedigree and are crossed with a Limousin bull. The calves are sold as stores between 8-15 months to private buyers. Most of the lambs are sold at Bala and Rhuthun livestock markets.
To ensure a thriving wildlife and rare bird population, whilst also producing red meat at Fedw Arian - which includes a site of Special Scientific Interest - Geraint and Rachael work closely with FWAG Cymru, the RSPB Cymru and Natural Resources Wales.
Speaking about his appointment, Geraint said: “ I would first of all like to thank the previous chairman Darren Williams for all of his dedication and hard work, since the committee was established in 2012. I hope I can fill his boots!
“Looking to the future, this committee has a lot of work to do, ensuring that the younger voices of our industry continue to be heard across Wales and the UK. It is important to include the views of younger members and new entrants to the industry in our work and through this committee we are able to provide another platform for their opinions and views.
“One of the Union’s main priorities has always been to ensure there is an avenue for younger members to feed into its discussions on issues of importance and with a turbulent future for the industry ahead this committee will do its utmost to keep the younger voices involved.”