FOLLOWING a successful Wales Coastal Path walk and hog roast evening last September, the chairmen of FUW Denbighshire and Flintshire branches recently presented a cheque to union vice president Richard Vaughan - who accepted the money on behalf of president Emyr Jones - for the union’s chosen charity T? Gobaith and T? Hafan childrens' hospices.

The final total raised by the members, families and friends of the two counties was £4,278.

County executive officer Rhys Roberts said: “it was an outstanding effort on the part of the two counties to raise such a significant sum for an extremely worthwhile cause.

“This reflects the excellent support within the two counties for the union.”

[caption id="attachment_4120" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] UNION SUPPORT: From left, FUW Denbighshire county chairman John Roberts and Flintshire county chairman Tim Faire present the cheque to Richard Vaughan.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4108" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kick-starting Farmhouse Breakfast Week at the Assembly, from left, deputy minister for farming and food Rebecca Evans, Hybu Cig Cymru chairman Dai Davies and FUW president Emyr Jones.[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales president Emyr Jones has highlighted the need for political leaders to come up with strategies which deal with the severe collapse in farmgate milk prices and the longer term viability of food production.

Speaking after the function, during which he told a gathering of more than 100 AMs and industry leaders that confidence within the dairy industry had collapsed, Mr Jones said:

“Action by supermarkets, dairy processors and governments is desperately needed in order to boost dairy farm incomes and confidence.

“However, we also need a long term strategy which takes account of the importance of food producers and food security, and the huge changes in agricultural policies which have occurred over the years.”

“We have gone from guaranteed prices to the watering down of the CAP and now quota abolition is imminent. Many want a further acceleration in the form of the complete dismantling of the CAP and complete exposure to global price volatility.

“But there is no real ‘Plan B’ which reflects the importance of protecting food producers and ensuring food security, and unless action is taken to recognise this I fear we are slowly opening Pandora’s box at a time when food trade wars and the threat of terrorism should place the issue very much at the centre of the EU’s agenda.”

Mr Jones told those present at the function that the newly introduced Common Agricultural Policy was the latest incarnation of policies drawn up more than fifty years ago by people with first-hand experience of the economic and human impact of more than a decade of food shortages and price volatility.

“The powers that be must recognise that policies which protect our food supplies are at least as important as policies aimed at preventing financial crises, and that the arguments in favour of common policies and controls which protect farm incomes and food production are as valid today as they was sixty years ago.

“EU membership is inherent to those policies, and the consequences of leaving the EU and the 700 million customers who live on mainland Europe would be dire,” he added.

Once again the Farmers’ Union of Wales is ringing the wake-up alarm bells to promote the wonderful food produced in Wales and highlight the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast during the annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week (January 25 to 31).

A variety of functions – starting with a Welsh buffet breakfast next Tuesday (January 13) at the National Assembly’s Senedd building in Cardiff Bay and sponsored by Welsh red meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru – will support this month’s campaign organised since 2000 by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).

FUW president Emyr Jones said the union is a keen supporter of HGCA’s campaign which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and demonstrate the rich variety of breakfast foods available in Wales and the rest of the UK.

“We are delighted to  once again host this prestigious event at the Senedd and it is an honour to say that for the last 15 years we have been joined for this event by the Welsh minister of agriculture, starting with Carwyn Jones, and we now look forward to welcoming deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans to the event next week.

“The theme for HGCA’s campaign ‘Shake Up Your Wake Up’ encourages us to make small changes to our morning routine to make sure you have time for breakfast every day!

“It is all about showcasing the most important meal of the day in a bid to raise awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of breakfast and the huge variety of top quality farm produce available in Wales – ranging from bacon, sausages and eggs to speciality dairy products, breads and cereals.”

Further farmhouse breakfast function will be held in Caernarfonshire on Sunday January 25 at Lleuar Fawr, Penygroes; Monday January 26 at Ty’n Hendre, Tal-y-bont, Bangor; Tuesday January 27 at Hirdre Fawr, Tudweiliog, Pwllheli; Wednesday January 28 at Glyn Uchaf, Tynygroes, Conwy; Thursday January 29 at Cae’r Graig, Efailnewydd, Pwllheli; and a further two on Friday January 30 at Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws y Coed and Caffi Anne’s Café, Bryncir Auction Centre, Bryncir, Garndolbenmaen.

A breakfast function has also been organised in Denbigh on Thursday January 29 at Pontruffydd Farm, Bodfari and in Flintshire on Friday January 30 at Plas Bedw, Pentrecelyn, Ruthin.

FUW's Meirionnydd branch has also organised three breakfast functions, on Monday January 26 from 10am to 1pm at Ysgol y Parc, near Bala, hosted by Olwen and Nia Davies, of Ty Cerrig, Parc; on Thursday January 29 from 8.30am at Llew Coch, Dinas Mawddwy, hosted by Berwyn, Cerys and Beryl Hughes; and on Friday January 30 from 8.30am at Esgairgyfela, Aberdyfi, hosted by Dewi and Meinir Owen.

For more information about the individual farmhouse breakfast functions please contact the FUW Caernarfonshire office on 01286 672541, FUW Denbigh and Flint office on 01824 707198 and the FUW Meirionnydd office on 01341 422298

The announcement by dairy co-operative First Milk, to defer payment for milk and to increase member capital contributions, is yet another setback for a Welsh dairy sector which is already reeling from a period of sustained low prices and poor profitability.

Last year saw months of consecutive downward milk pricing by many major milk buyers including Arla, First Milk and Dairy Crest and a lengthy delay in milk price recovery now seems certain due to problems such as over supply within the global marketplace.

FUW president Mr Emyr Jones said: “The decision to postpone milk cheques by two weeks will have a significant impact and FUW First Milk suppliers are extremely concerned about the decision.  Farmers are not in a position to defer paying their bills or direct debits so this decision places them in an untenable position.

“The FUW is naturally anxious that a major collector of milk in Wales is experiencing cash flow problems and we have discussed our concerns with First Milk following the announcement.

“The decision by First Milk to defer payments compounds the sustained low prices already experienced by dairy producers in Wales and adds to concerns about the volatility of the milk market and its impact on the viability of the sector.”