[caption id="attachment_6906" align="alignleft" width="169"] Hold on Tight!! FUW Montgomeryshire County Chairman Mark Williams keeps the FUW tent on the ground.[/caption]

Despite the adverse weather conditions on Saturday 3 September, Farmers’ Union of Wales Montgomeryshire staff and members were in high spirits and enjoyed a successful day at Llanfair Caereinion Show.

The show, held at Llysun, Llanerfyl, Welshpool, was hosted by kind permission of the Tudor family and all county office staff, including administrative assistants Lynne Baker and Alison Jones, were on hand to greet members and friends of the Union with tea, coffee and refreshments.

Local FUW Insurance Services Ltd. Admin Assistant Sophie Rees, Account Executives Nia Wyn Evans and Kay Williams also attended to help members with their insurance queries.

FUW Montgomeryshire County Executive Officer Emyr Wyn Davies said: “We had torrential rain for most of the day. The afternoon provided a brief respite from the rain but then the wind picked up. Our tent was full of members enjoying a cup of tea, talking about #FarmingMatters and then the tent nearly flew away! Despite the severe weather we enjoyed a successful day and I would like to thank all those who met up with us during the show and also to those who took part in the recovery of the FUW Montgomeryshire Tent.”

County branches of the Farmers’ Union of Wales across Wales are meeting with members of the Union to consult on future agricultural policies in a post-Brexit world.

The Union issued an internal consultation document to its membership in a bid to seek their opinion on the future for agriculture post-Brexit in addition to an online questionnaire.

Successful meetings have already taken place in Montgomeryshire, Pembrokeshire, Brecon & Radnor, Carmarthen, Meirionnydd, Denbigh and Flint and Glamorgan. Further meetings are being held for members in Gwent on Monday 12 September commencing at 7.30pm at Little Mill Village Hall, Pontypool; Caernarfonshire on Monday 12 September commencing at 7.30pm at the main lecture theatre at Glynllifon College and Anglesey on Tuesday September 13 commencing at 7.30pm at Tafarn Y Rhos, Rhostrehwfa, Llangefni.

“The future of many of the most significant issues, such as the future of financial support, trade agreements and legislative change, need to be discussed and we therefore encourage our members to identify those policy priorities, which will help develop a profitable and sustainable Welsh farming sector, that is able to withstand increasing price volatility,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.

The FUW is working closely with its membership through consultation, to ensure that future policy positions have the backing of the Welsh agricultural sector and that these policy deliver what the industry needs.

The consultation and online questionnaire are designed to give all Union members the chance to comment on some of the major issues relating to the types of agricultural policies that might best benefit Wales after the UK leaves the European Union.

In addition, the survey has space for individual comments on how Welsh farming and our rural communities could or should change in a way which improves our financial, environmental and cultural sustainability.

“The FUW remains in regular contact with Welsh and UK Ministers and civil servants and it is now important that we identify the possible post-Brexit opportunities for Welsh agriculture. We will be discussing the outcome of the internal consultation and the online survey at the our next Grand Council meeting at the end of the month and will then be making recommendations to the Government,” added Glyn Roberts.

News that the Riverlea depot in Crymych will be closing due to difficulties in the rural economy, has been described as sad news but a sign of the times by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The agricultural machinery company has been based in the North Pembrokeshire village for over 50 years and employs up to 20 people there.

The business was established during the early 1960's and in a video published on the company's website, owner David Hill explains that workers will be offered posts at the company's other branch in Whitland - around 17 miles away.

Commenting on the news, FUW Managing Director Alan Davies, said: “This is a huge loss for the rural economy in North Pembrokeshire. Unfortunately it is a sign of the times and reinforces just how dependant these second and third sector businesses are on farming.

“20 jobs in Crymych are as important as hundreds in other parts of Wales. It's time for the WG to recognise that rural Wales needs support. We know that the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates is consulting on business support, and we will be responding accordingly, highlighting the need for more rural focus and less interest on attracting foreign investment.”

The initial lineup of speakers has been revealed for the Farmers’ Union of Wales upcoming All Wales Farm Conference themed ‘Opportunities for Growth post-Brexit’.

The conference will be held on October 6, at the RWAS Members Centre on the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, commencing at 9.30am.

FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “This conference is not just about farming - it is about the wider recognition of how Farming Matters, where supply chains are involved, how money circulates in the local economy, where people survive, where profits are made, communities are sustained and our culture continues to thrive. For the first time in over 40 years we have an opportunity to create a long-term plan that favours Wales. If we focus on that – it will happen.

“We need to decide what we want Wales to be and what we want to achieve. It is in our hands to shape a future for our children and grandchildren that is sustainable and profitable and we must recognise the excellent opportunity for us to shape a post-Brexit world that suits Welsh agriculture and Britain. This conference, without a doubt, provides a platform to hear from a wide range of speakers and it will be informative to all who believe that Farming Matters in shaping our rural economy and establishing Wales as the rural powerhouse it has the potential to be.”

Chairing the conference will be ITV Wales Journalist Catrin Haf Jones.

Speakers on the day will include AHDB Chief Strategy Officer Tom Hind, Head of Economics and Social Policy & Director of Research at the think tank ‘Policy Exchange’ and former member of the 'Vote Leave' Economists group Professor Warwick Lightfoot, Welsh Government Future Generations and Well Being Commissioner Sophie Howe, Deputy Chief Executive RWAS & Nuffield Scholar Aled Jones, HCC- Meat Promotion Wales Export Market Development Executive Deanna Leven and Steve Keyworth Founder and Director of Environment Systems, an environmental and agricultural consultancy.

Additional speakers will be announced soon.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Preparations for our All Wales Farm Conference are in full swing and we are excited to explore the many aspects and opportunities for growth in a post-Brexit world.

“We have a superb lineup of speakers, who are experts in their field and who will certainly offer great perspectives and insight into what is to come in the future once we leave the European Union in regards to our economy, trade, technology and our social communities.

“I would encourage everyone who has an interest in #FarmingMatters to book their space for the conference as soon as possible via our website fuw.org.uk or by calling our head office on 01970 820280, as places are allocated on a first come first served basis.”