This February, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is once again encouraging farmers in Wales to get behind the Big Farmland Bird Count, by spending 30 minutes recording the farmland birds they see on their land. 

The initiative celebrates its 12th anniversary this year, and provides an opportunity to construct a snapshot of the health of our cherished farmland birds across Wales and the UK.

With almost 90% of Wales’ land used for agricultural purposes,  how farmers manage their land is vital towards supporting biodiversity, with this survey therefore providing an opportunity to highlight the good work many farmers already do to support nature and the environment.

During last year’s count, nearly 395,000 birds were spotted from 1,721 surveys across the UK. In Wales, 33,882 birds were counted, with a total of 88 species recorded, including 18 species on the ‘Red List’ of birds of conservation concern, such as Starling, Lapwing and House Sparrows.

As well as providing a valuable insight into the state of nature on our farms, the Count also provides an opportunity to highlight what can be done by farmers to help farmland birds survive this difficult time of year so that the breeding populations are increased. Such simple actions include; planting and looking after hedgerows, creating and keeping wide field margins, as well as providing feeders with seeds during late winter and early spring to help birds at a time of year when food can be scarce.

As a Union, we were delighted to sponsor an event in Montgomeryshire this January promoting the Big Farmland Bird Count. This brought over 60 farmers and members of the local community together to raise awareness of how to identify farmland birds, as well as promoting the small, simple steps farmers can take to support bird populations.

The annual UK wide count, run by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) will take place between 7-23 February 2025, with farmers encouraged for one day to spend about 30 minutes recording the species and number of birds seen on one particular area of the farm.

For more information on how to take part, and to download your own count sheets, go to the Big Farmland Bird Count website: www.bfbc.org.uk/ 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) Ceredigion are extending a warm welcome to members of the public to join them as they welcome FUW President, Ian Rickman to Aberaeron Rugby Club to speak about his experiences of farming in partnership. 

Mr Rickman, a second generation farmer who farms Gurnos Farm, a 84-hectare upland farm near Bethlehem, Llandeilo, will be joined by his business partner, Sean Jeffreys, who joined the business in September 2022.

Mr Rickman has lived and worked at Gurnos all his life, however, keen to pursue off-farm commitments but not yet ready to retire from farming, he sought help from Farming Connect’s Venture initiative.

Through the matchmaking service, Ian was paired with Sean - who lived at nearby Ffairfach, but had grown up in Swansea, however has always had a keen interest in agriculture through his grandparents who kept a smallholding.

The evening will provide an opportunity for the two to share their experiences of farming in partnership at Gurnos, including the legal and business background, together with discussing the opportunities farming in partnership offers farmers. 

The evening will be held at Aberaeron Rugby Club at 8:00pm on Tuesday 11 February 2025, with a warm welcome extended to all members of the public.

Commenting ahead of the evening, Catrin Griffiths, FUW Ceredigion County Executive Officer, said: “All of us in FUW Ceredigion are looking forward to hearing about Ian and Sean’s history and experiences of farming in partnership. 

"The recent debate over the worrying changes to Inheritance Tax has seen more and more farmers looking ahead, and thinking what the future may hold for their farms. For some, farming in partnership may be one possible option, and we look forward to learning more about the process, and what challenges and opportunities such initiative entails for farmers.” 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) are celebrating another successful Farmhouse Breakfast Week, with over £21,000 raised towards charities and local causes, including more than £13,500 towards the Wales Air Ambulance.

The annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week saw 24 breakfast events held across Wales between the 18th and 25th of January 2025, with members, the public and politicians all enjoying the delicious, nutritious and sustainable breakfast produce, whilst catching up on farming matters with FUW staff and officials.

This year’s breakfast event marked a double celebration for the FUW, as they celebrated seventy years since their establishment in 1955, whilst also marking fifteen years since the start of their Farmhouse Breakfast Week in Caernarfon back in 2010.

As part of the week, a breakfast event was also held at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay.  This was a great event with a range of key stakeholders and Senedd Members, including First Minister, Eluned Morgan in attendance. The event was kindly sponsored by Jane Dodds MS, with Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS giving the key-note speech.

Reflecting on a successful Farmhouse Breakfast Week, FUW President, Ian Rickman said: “We have enjoyed another successful breakfast week and I thank all the staff, members, volunteers and our politicians across Wales for their support. In particular, I’d like to thank the many local businesses from across Wales that have so generously supported our breakfasts through their donations - be it bacon, sausages, dairy produce and eggs. Thank you all.

"Together we have raised an incredible amount of money, including a significant donation towards the Wales Air Ambulance, that saves lives across Wales every single day.

"This year, we were also delighted to have over 25 politicians attend our events, which provided staff and officials with a key opportunity to highlight the many challenges facing our farming families - be it the inheritance tax changes, bTB or the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

“The Farmhouse breakfast week not only offers an opportunity to bring our communities together and raise funds towards good causes, but also provides a key opportunity to showcase the very best of our high quality Welsh produce, and highlight the vital role farming plays within our rural communities both socially and economically.”

Dr Sue Barnes, Wales Air Ambulance Charity Chief Executive, said:  “We are extremely grateful to the FUW and its members for the magnificent sum of money they have raised yet again this year to support the Wales Air Ambulance.

“Our charity is working hard to ensure our vital work in supporting rural and agricultural communities can continue, not just for the here and now, but for our future generations. Our commitment and connection to rural Wales is, and always will be, incredibly strong.

“We also recognise and give thanks for the invaluable contribution that the farming community makes to Welsh society, as well as the quality produce that is enjoyed here in Wales and around the world.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has responded to the Welsh Government’s announcement today (29 January 2025) to introduce an all-Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ).

Commenting following the introduction of an all-Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, Elin Jenkins, Farmers’ Union of Wales Policy Officer said: “Whilst it’s important to note there have been no cases of the avian influenza confirmed in poultry or kept birds in Wales so far this outbreak season, this announcement was perhaps inevitable considering the recent cases in close proximity to Wales, and the wider situation across the UK.

"Avian Influenza can put significant financial and emotional strain on our farmers, and it is crucial poultry keepers practice good biosecurity and vigilance to protect their flocks from this disease.”