The importance of agriculture in the wider context of the holistic fabric of everyday life in Wales
by Glyn Roberts, FUW President
WHAT a week which started with a special Sunday morning service. It was interesting to hear Ifan Jones Evans in his reading referring to the Apostle of Peace Henry Richard, preaching about peace over two hundred years ago considering our situation today! Words of the late Reverend J T Roberts referring to civilization spring into mind, that humanity came from the forest but getting a forest of humanity is much more difficult, as it is still in its infancy.
On the way back to the Union stand I met the Archdruid (Myrddin ap Dafydd) and had an interesting conversation over a cup of tea at our stand, with Myrddin referring to the change in emphasis of land use, and that he was concerned about buying land for planting trees to offset carbon with an extremely important reference to the castles of Dinefwr, Dryslwyn and Carreg Cennen, and the fact that the purpose of building these was to protect the land and preserve it in order to ensure a supply of food through raising and fattening cattle.
I then had the pleasure of buying a book, Clymau, Plethiadau, Gweadau a Rhwydi by E Lloyd Jones, one of the most cultured members of the Union in Ceredigion. A humble person with a sharp memory. This is not the first book he has written as he has previously published a book on the history of Talgarreg, and rumour has it that he has another interesting book in the pipeline.
“All waiting is long” is a famous proverb, but of course, some things are worth waiting for, and I'm sure one person from the Senni Valley would agree with this.
Every shepherd or shepherdess has to rely completely and put 100% faith and trust in the relationship with the farm's sheepdog. A good sheepdog is essential for the day-to-day work of the farm, as there are remote locations on every farm that a four-wheel vehicle cannot access. But sometimes the relationship develops so well that a shepherd ventures into the world of training and selling sheepdogs. And this is the story of a young member from Ceredigion, Rhys Griffiths, who has recently been enjoying considerable success.
On Wednesday there will be plenty of mischief and fun between 11am and 12pm when Ifan and the Strab - Tomos Lewis Bwlch - and Ifan Jones Evans from the BBC will be discussing hot topics of the day such as football, Mydroilyn YFC, farming, girls... and much more! Keep an eye out for Tomos along the Maes on Monday and Tuesday when he and his 'Strabets' will be walking around creating a ruckus about the interview which will be broadcasted on Radio Cymru.
On Monday 23rd of May, a payment plan development workshop, 'Hedges and Edges', was held on Fferm Fedw Arian in Rhyd Uchaf near Bala. 'Hedges and Edges' is a Coed Cadw proposal and the charity hopes the Welsh Government will use its proposals as part of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme. The workshop was being held to give the Farmers’ Union of Wales and NFU Cymru an opportunity to jointly develop the plan, and give feedback to Coed Cadw.
I spent most of the year 1992 in the company of Digion y Dolffin. Yes, you read correctly…Digion y Dolffin! Digion y Dolffin was the mascot of the Aberystwyth National Eisteddfod 1992 Children's Pageant - “Seth Gwenwyn a’r Gwyrddedigion” - a pageant telling the story of a group of young people who wanted to save Cantre'r Gwaelod from Seth Gwenwyn's siege!