FUWture of farming

Osian Gwyn Jones, a young farmer from Meirionnydd shares his story of his upbringing in agriculture, and his hopes for the future of the sector...

Agriculture has always been of great interest to me, and I loved helping dad on the family farm when I was younger. I grew up at Rhyd-y-Fen, Arenig, a hill farm that rises from 340 to 700 meters above sea level, where we keep Welsh Mountain Sheep as well as Welsh Black Cattle.

From Arenig to Aberystwyth

I received my primary education at Ysgol Bro Tryweryn, Frongoch, and my secondary education at Ysgol-y-Berwyn, Y Bala. After I completed my A Levels in the sixth form in Bala, I decided that studying an Agriculture course at Aberystwyth University was the path I would like to follow. At University, I really enjoyed the aspects of the course that related to agriculture and the environment, because it is very relevant to the type of farming we do at home, and is very contemporary considering the growth in the public's interest in the environmental footprint of their food.

I was very fortunate to win the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society's Best Agriculture Student Award at Aberystwyth University in 2021, after completing three unforgettable years there. Following this, I returned home to follow in my father's footsteps, and farm with him. I’m the fourth generation of the family to farm here at Rhyd-y-Fen.

Young farmer

I’m currently the Chairman of Maesywaen YFC. The club can trace its history back over decades, and has enjoyed a number of successes over the years. Although there are only a small number of members at the moment - there is a lot of competition to attract members in Penllyn, because there are four clubs in such a small area - we enjoy fun nights, and hopefully the club will grow again one day.

My favourite YFC activity is the Earmark Recognition Competition, which is held at the county rally every year. Earmarks are an important tradition to protect, not only as a tool against rural crime, but as part of Welsh culture. I was lucky to win the under 31 competition this year. This is a huge privilege, especially because the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society sponsored the competition. I am very fortunate to work amongst farmers who continue the tradition, as they teach me and mentor me about the different earmarks.

What does the future hold for agriculture?

After graduating in 2021, I was asked to write a similar piece on the future of agriculture, and naturally, I went back to re-read it to see if any of my hopes had been realised in the meantime. At that time, there was widespread talk of rising tensions in Eastern Europe, which subsequently escalated into the war between Russia and Ukraine. This had a massive impact on agricultural fertiliser prices across Europe. Five years later, conflicts in the Middle East—and their impact on fuel prices—are dominating the news. One of the agricultural industry’s greatest weaknesses is its lack of resilience when responding to rising input costs. I foresee that, as an industry, we will need to try to reduce our reliance on these inputs in order to thrive.

One of my main concerns in 2021 was the new agri-environment scheme, and it is hard to believe that, five years later, we still don’t have a complete scheme. Although we are in a better position regarding certainty—with the Sustainable Farming Scheme’s universal actions laying a foundation - it is essential that the optional and collaborative actions are published soon to encourage more people to join the scheme.

Five years ago, I said that I would like to see an agricultural industry that offers plenty of opportunities for young people, as well as changes that ensure they can live and thrive in their local rural communities. I continue to believe this today, especially in a county like Gwynedd, which has a high proportion of holiday homes. It is vital that employment opportunities are available for these young people who wish to remain in our rural areas. I hope we can offer this to them within the agricultural industry, alongside other skilled jobs.

Fighting for a thriving future for agriculture

Looking back five, or even ten, years to the Brexit vote, it is remarkable how many challenges the agricultural industry has had to overcome in the meantime. As young farmers today, we have inherited an industry that has survived terrible disasters—an industry for which people fought hard in the past to ensure it reached its current position. My father finds it hard to believe that forty years have passed since the Chernobyl disaster, which had such a severe impact on hill farming. (I have a vague memory of scanning the lambs for radiation, and the red paint used to mark those that had passed). Until recently, I was unaware of the battle farmers had to endure to ensure their voices were heard following that event.

The task of ensuring the industry thrives is now in our hands, and we must continue to work with our union to fight for and secure a thriving future for agriculture in Wales.