It was with great sadness that the Farmers’ Union of Wales was informed of the death of Lord Elystan Morgan. Elystan Morgan's contribution has been significant in the context of Wales, the Welsh language, agriculture and, of course, Cardiganshire. As officials and members of the Union we are proud of this opportunity to pay tribute to one of the great political figures in Wales over the last half a century.

Naturally, we could take note of his Parliamentary career, whether as a Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire between 1966 and 1974 and his service in the House of Lords over a period of nearly forty years between 1981 and 2020. We could also mention his tireless work in leading the 1979 devolution campaign and his important contribution, quietly and effectively to the strengthening of the devolution settlement following the 1997 vote. In addition, we could also discuss his superb career in law and as a very respected Judge for a lengthy period of time. As a Union we are proud to note his sincere contribution to Wales, the countryside and his lifelong commitment to the Welsh language.

As a politician Elystan Morgan had an innate understanding and sympathy for the demands of agriculture and rural Wales which was an important part of his work as a Member of Parliament for his home county. He gave a similar commitment during his time in the House of Lords where he was willing to consistently defend the interests of the countryside and Wales. He was a regular attendee of the annual dinner held by the Union at the House of Lords and at the events held in the Senedd to mark the Union’s farmhouse breakfast week. These events celebrated the uniqueness of rural Wales whilst also raising awareness of the demands of agriculture among politicians. Elystan Morgan's presence ensured that the Union's messages were heard and he was a firm champion on the red benches.

Safety on farms and how farmers can protect themselves and their business will be under the spotlight at an upcoming webinar, hosted by FUW Insurance Services Ltd at the virtual Royal Welsh Show. The event, which is open to all, takes place on Wednesday 21 July at 10am via Zoom and will be hosted on the Royal Welsh Show event website.

Keynote speakers on the day include Tony Succamore,Sales and Operations Director of FUW Insurance Services Ltd; Georgina Davis, Business Development Manager (Midlands) at British Engineering Services; Health and Safety Executive representative Christopher Maher and Farm safety expert and instructor Brian Rees. Chairing the webinar is FUW Deputy President and FUW Insurance Services Ltd. board member Ian Rickman.

Farmers from Meirionnydd have raised critical concerns of the industry with Member of the Senedd, Ken Skates, at a recent farm visit with Farmers’ Union of Wales Meirionnydd County Chairman Edwin Jones and Union officials.

The event which was hosted by Mr Jones and his wife Eirian, at Ty Mawr, Carrog, Corwen, Denbighshire, provided an opportunity to see the farm, which stretches from the banks of the river Dee to approximately 1500 feet above sea level, and for members to highlight and discuss issues around climate change, future farm policies and the agricultural water pollution regulations. 

The typical family farm, which extends to 149 hectares and is mostly hill and upland, is home to 730 Welsh Mountain ewes and 190 shearlings. 

Edwin Jones was elected Meirionnydd FUW Branch Chair in June 2021 and is a former Assistant Headmaster at Ysgol Maes Garmon, Yr Wyddgrug. His wife Eirian is also a former Head of Welsh and Drama at the school. Edwin and Eirian have farmed at Tymawr since 2002, with Eirian being brought up at the farm. Both retired from their teaching posts in 2012.

A short drive from Dolgellau, Meirionnydd, just off the main road is Cae Coch farm, Rhydymain, home of well-known TV presenter and farming champion Alun Edwards. Driving up a short farm track, it is impossible not to notice how green it is here. 

The eye is drawn up to the surrounding hills, the trees envelope the interspersed small fields, none of which are bigger than 5 acres. The fields here are not square and there is a mosaic of them. Some are scattered with a modicum of animals - Welsh Black cattle and their calves are resting, chewing the cud; a few sheep are visible on the mountain ridges. 

It is obvious that this land is being looked after by someone. There are hay fields with flowers in them, buttercups and daisies. The land is not pushed here and there are docks, thistles and dandelions. The fields have hedges and stone walls as borders, and have been here since the middle ages. 

Moving up through the land, it’s sloping and north facing, shrub land or ffridd land as it's called here is followed by unimproved land that includes gorse. There is purple heather on a crested flat and then you get to the white mountain - where you find sedge grasses and the sheep graze in the summer. 

Wherever you look it feels like a combination of wild and managed land. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is looking forward to a busy virtual Royal Welsh Show week and is hosting a variety of webinars discussing rural housing, climate change, mental health and the future of digital connectivity for Wales.

Speaking ahead of the event, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We had hoped to be able to be at the showground in person this year, like many others. The Royal Welsh show remains a pinnacle event in our farming calendar and whilst we can’t meet face to face, we are excited to discuss some of the most critical issues facing our industry virtually once again. I hope many of you will be able to join us for these events.”

In addition to the webinars, the Union is also launching a lobbying tool through its website, allowing members and the public to write to their elected representatives highlighting their grave concerns about the Free Trade Deal with Australia. 

Tackling the Rural Housing Crisis:

The FUW wrote to the Welsh Government twelve months ago calling for action to prevent an inevitable increase in pressure on rural housing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, since which the issue has become a reality and hit the national headlines. 

Pembrokeshire Farmers’ Union of Wales county officials recently met with their local Member of the Senedd, Paul Davies, at a farm visit hosted by organic dairy farmers Dai, Sharon and Llŷr Miles, at their farm Beudy Bach, Haverfordwest. The main concerns raised were the current Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations and bovine TB - issues which are making farming unsustainable for many in the county and across Wales.

The business was started by Dai and Sharron in 1997 when they moved to Pembrokeshire taking on the tenancy of Barnsley Farm, a 143 acres farm. At the time it was a stock/arable unit which they converted into an organic dairy unit starting with 33 cows and leased milk quota. 

In 2001 they rented a further 90 acres of pasture land and then in 2005 they rented the neighbouring farm within the same estate, Beudy Bach. In 2018 they had the opportunity to purchase Beudy Bach from the estate and installed a modern robotic milking system on the holding. Llyr joined the business after returning from Aberystwyth University where he studied agriculture.