The first breakfast in Carmarthen, tomorrow - 26 January, has changed location!

The breakfast is now held at The Warren, 11 Mansel Street, Carmarthen. It starts at 8.30am and Emma and Neil Rose of Rhosyn farm are in charge of breakfast, using their own home-made sausages, bacon, black pudding and fresh eggs straight from the farm.
For more information contact the Carmarthen office on 01267237974.

[caption id="attachment_7576" align="alignleft" width="300"] INSPECTING THE NEW MILKING PARLOUR: From left, Caernarfon county chairman Tudur Parry, Owain Roberts, Liz Saville Roberts, Rhydian Owen, Caernarfon county executive officer Gwynedd Watkin and Dafydd Owen.[/caption]

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts was reminded by Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) members that the contribution made by lowland farms to the rural economy is vital during a farm visit hosted by Chairman of the FUW’s  Milk and Dairy Produce Committee Rhydian Owen.

The visit was held on Friday, January 20 at Trewen, Botwnnog near Pwllheli, a business run by Mr Owen and his parents Dafydd and Enid Owen.

Speaking about the local economy, Mr Owen explained that businesses like theirs annually contribute millions of pounds to the rural economy. Over the last 3 years Trewen farm itself has contributed over £150,000, while similar figures had been spent locally by others present.

“If these lowland farms are forgotten during Brexit talks the economic impact would be catastrophic, resulting in further de-population of rural communities,” said Mr Owen.

Local business representatives alo showed their support for the industry, emphasising the numbers not directly involved in farming but who nevertheless depend on the industry.

“Many rural businesses rely on the agricultural industry for income, including agricultural suppliers, contractors, mechanics and retailers.

“Under the current financial climate the future of such businesses would be jeopardised if support was not continued in both the uplands and lowlands of Wales,” said Mr Owen.

The FUW stressed that politicians on a local, Assembly and Westminster level need to be aware of the complexity of agricultural supply chains and the wide network of businesses which depends on the farming industry.

Liz Saville Roberts voiced her support, stating: “It’s imperative that the Welsh Government are given the responsibility of delivering appropriate support to the industry in order to address local needs that are very different to those across the border.

“There is no certainty as to what will happen to agricultural funding after 2020, and three years is a very short time for farmers and those who rely on the industry who need to plan ahead.

“I would urge the industry to take every opportunity to explain the critical importance of dairy and livestock farming to the Welsh economy.”

Those present agreed that the devolved regions of the UK should work together to develop a mechanism to prevent distortion between agricultural producers in different regions, thus allowing the Welsh Government to fine tune policies in order to cater for Wales’ specific needs.

[caption id="attachment_7577" align="alignright" width="300"] ENJOYING GLASU ICE CREAM.[/caption]

Mr Owen added: “The latest financial figures show that without direct support via Pillar 1 most businesses would not survive, meaning the loss of a multi-billion pound multiplier effect that brings vast benefits to Wales’ economy.

“Wales needs to take a strong position on maintaining the budget, just as it did during the negotiations over the CAP budget - or risk a net fall in our overall funding allocation, with dire knock-on effects for our entire economy.”

Following the visit to Trewen, two newly formed businesses were visited, both being diversification ventures on dairy farms on the Ll?n Peninsula.

Glasu is a business established by FUW members Dylan and Annwen Jones of Bryn Rhydd, Edern, Pwllheli who run a 300 acre dairy farm milking over 200 cows. Dylan and Annwen decided to diversify in 2014 into making ice cream from milk produced on the farm to supply local shops and eateries.  In March 2016 they took on the lease of a premises on the Maes in Pwllheli and have established a successful ice cream cafe.

Dylan and Annwen’s daughter Elliw and her husband are in charge of the shop whilst the parents concentrate on making the ice cream on the farm in Edern. They now employ 2 people full-time and have up to an extra 6 part-time staff over the peak tourist season. Things are going well and the family are planning on extending the business in the very near future.

The last visit was to Pwllheli’s Glan Don Industrial Estate where Llaethdy Ll?n have occupied one of the units since last August. Llaethdy Ll?n is owned by Sion and Nia Jones of Madryn Isaf, Boduan, Pwllheli. Sion and Nia run a 100 acre dairy farm in Boduan, milking over 80 cows. They diversified into processing the milk produced by their dairy herd at Madryn Isa last August after realising the possibilities of adding value to their milk and ensuring the stability of their business and the future of their three children Ela, Tomos and Anna.

[caption id="attachment_7578" align="alignleft" width="300"] HEARING ABOUT LLAETHDY LL?N: Sion Jones giving a talk.[/caption]

After months of market research and experimenting they managed to secure the premises at Glan Don to process liquid milk and produce cream. The business is already employing two full time and two part time members of staff. Local retailers all over the Ll?n peninsula and as far away as Brynsiencyn on Anglesey have been very supportive, with additional customers being attracted every week.

Both businesses appreciated the input by consultants from Cywain and also the assistance given at the Food Technology Centre in Pencraig, Llangefni. Cywain consultants gave valuable input into designing labels and ensuring that all the legal aspects of the marketing were addressed, whilst different products were developed at the Food Technology Centre. Without the input of both establishments neither business would have been established.

Caernarfonshire County Chairman Tudur Parry congratulated both businesses for having ventured and invested in equipment and for having the courage to do so. Mr Parry said:“Too many of us here in Wales are scared of having a go and of failing. Here are two prime examples of why you shouldn’t be scared at all.”

Dylan Jones said: “I’d rather have tried and failed rather than regret not having tried at all, and I advise all to think and take advantage of every opportunity there is.”

Sion Jones added saying: “There is assistance out there, use it, then at least you know where you stand and can assess properly if it’s worth going for it.”

[caption id="attachment_7572" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies (event sponsor), Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths, FUW President Glyn Roberts[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has told Assembly Members in Cardiff at its annual Farmhouse breakfast that farmers can’t be expected to shoulder the burden of in-effective bovine disease control measures any longer and renewed its call to tackle the disease in badger populations.

Speaking at the 17th Farmhouse breakfast FUW President Glyn Roberts told Assembly Members that: “We cannot expect farmers to continue to shoulder the burden of new interventions without there being appropriate support, nor can we ignore the call for pro-active management of disease in wildlife.”

Mr Roberts acknowledged that whilst farmers see some progress in terms of dealing with diseased badgers, the FUW strongly urges the Welsh Government to address the issue of badger culling far more robustly.

“Nearly 10,000 cattle were slaughtered last year, in a one-sided approach to dealing with the problem. The results of the recent consultation show that the farmers of Wales are expecting a more robust solution that also deals with wildlife,” he told Assembly Members and breakfast guests.

He further stressed that we must not fall into the trap of forming opinions based on emotions rather than facts in political and public life and that there is an urgent need to base our future strategy on evidence based information from impartial research.

Appreciating that we are living in different times, challenging times, and perhaps the most uncertain times that many of us will have experienced in decades, Mr Roberts further said that the decision to leave the European Union will have a profound effect on the Welsh economy, none more so than the agricultural sector.

“Although we must be optimistic and hope for the best possible outcome following the referendum result and the plans laid out by Prime Minister Theresa May, we cannot hide from reality: 90% of Welsh agricultural exports go to the EU, and 80% of farmers income is derived from the Common Agricultural Policy,” added Mr Roberts.

Breakfast guests in Cardiff Bay further heard that the Union has spent a lot of time around tables with other organisations discussing a way forward for the agricultural industry in the last six months and that in collaboration with the Welsh Government, the FUW and other organisations, have come together to craft a vision for agriculture post-Brexit.

“I'm really pleased at both the progress and the level of engagement that we have seen over recent months but none of us truly know what the future holds and of course the details of any settlement will be crucial.

“But the FUW is convinced that the devolved powers for agriculture will be best managed through a carefully crafted framework that recognises the power of devolution. And by working closely with our Government here in Wales, we will be able to create a solution that is right for Wales.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the white paper on Brexit launched by Welsh Government First Minister Carwyn Jones and the leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood today.

The joint Welsh Brexit plan calls for continued participation in the single market, as well as a "balanced approach" to immigration linking migration to jobs.

First Minister Carwyn Jones stated that the paper "balances the message which the Welsh people gave us" of the Brexit vote "with the economic reality that makes participation in the single market so important for the future prosperity of Wales, and indeed the UK as a whole".

FUW President Glyn Roberts responded to the plans, saying: “I welcome the stance taken by Welsh Government in their Brexit white paper, which acknowledges that “continued participation in the single market to support the future prosperity of Wales” is essential”.

“The livestock producers which make up the vast majority of Welsh farmers are particularly reliant on exports to the continent, and the FUW has made it clear since the referendum that full and unfettered access is essential to Wales.

“Around 30 percent of Welsh lambs were exported to continental Europe, and the complexity of pan-EU food supply chains means there are acute threats for other sectors.”

The Brexit white paper also call on the UK Government to make good on promises that Wales would not lose funding as a result of Brexit, as well as calling for recognition that there needs to be a "fundamentally different" relationship between the devolved governments and the UK government.

The FUW has continually stressed that a transition period of at least 10 years is necessary in order to phase in and allow the industry to adjust to new agricultural policies post-Brexit and in addition, has argued that agricultural support following our exit from the European Union should be maintained at levels which at least reflect those levels which would have been in place should the UK have voted to remain in the EU.

Furthermore, recognising the different role the Welsh and devolved administrations have to play has been welcomed recently by the FUW.

Speaking about the role the Welsh Government should play in negotiating our exit from the EU, Mr Roberts said: “Devolution should be respected within an overarching UK support framework in the context of making our withdrawal from the European Union and as such we welcomed Theresa May’s commitment to work with the devolved administrations and her recognition that Wales is different to the rest of the UK.  That call has today been mirrored by Welsh Government and we will continue to work with them to develop a framework that takes Wales’ unique position into account.”

A third of Wales’ population live in rural areas where farming, and businesses which rely on agriculture, play an important role in local economies; in sparsely populated areas, where centres of population have less than 2,000 people, around 10 per cent of workers are employed in agriculture. That equivalent to 14 per cent of those employed outside the public sector.

“Taking these figures into consideration, the FUW has highlighted for many years the wider role agriculture plays in terms of supporting Wales’ rural and wider economy and that’s why we are stressing the fact that agriculture needs to be allowed to adjust to new policies post-Brexit and that support is maintained in line with other EU countries.

“The chances of a bad trade deal or no deal at all increase the faster the UK government proceeds, which is why the FUW has consistently called for a lengthy transition period. Otherwise we risk being like lemmings rushing towards a cliff edge."