The Farmers' Union of Wales reaffirmed its lifelong mission to safeguard family farms - the "backbone of Welsh rural communities" - during a high profile function at Westminster today (Tuesday March 11).

Addressing the union's annual House of Lords lunch, president Emyr Jones said family farmers were passionate about the food they produce but passion alone cannot sustain their businesses.

In addition to celebrating quality Welsh food, the function is important in the FUW’s continuing campaign to promote Welsh produce. Hosted by Lord Roberts of Llandudno and generously supported by sponsors Hybu Cig Cymru, Welsh Government and E.ON, the guest list included peers, MPs and representatives of key buyers of Welsh produce.

The menu comprised a main course of Welsh lamb - served with a leek, potato and Caerphilly cake, stuffed cabbage and wild garlic - followed by Welsh cake with gooseberry compote and honeyed cream.

Mr Jones told diners his passion for family farms and their survival was one of the reasons he joined the FUW which was established in 1955.

"I believe in the FUW's principles to be an independent union fighting for the farmers of Wales to ensure there's a good future for family farms - the backbone of our rural communities - keeping our young farmers on the land and our towns and villages vibrant."

Referring to "The Sound of Music" film's song about "the hills being alive with the sound of music", Mr Jones, who runs a beef and sheep family farm near Bala, said: "What I want in the hills of Wales is for them to be alive with the sound of farmers and their children going about their day-to-day work.

"I am proud and grateful for having had the opportunity to do a job that I really enjoy which is to look after the land and animals and produce food for our customers to enjoy.

"As farmers we are passionate about the food we produce but passion alone cannot sustain us. We need a fair price for what we produce so that we can invest in our farms and our livestock. If we do not look after the land and our animals they will not look after us.

"Our industry needs the full support of Westminster and our National Assembly in Cardiff so that we can produce more food at a time when the world population is estimated to increase from today's seven billion to nine billion by 2050."

Last Thursday, the FUW's Grand Council unanimously agreed to underline the union's commitment to family farms after Brecon and Radnor delegate Richard Joyce reminded the meeting 2014 had been designated the International Year of Family Farming.

"Wales is a nation of family farms but many farm policy agreements are reached in Europe so it is vital for Welsh agriculture that family farms are at the forefront of all GB discussions," said Mr Joyce, who farms on the Wales-England border at Woodbrook, near Kington.

"The FUW, with the family farm central to its formation and history, should seize the initiative and argue for all family farms, wherever they are in the UK, to be brought to the very top of all EU and UK agricultural agendas and discussions.

"It is why we were formed and we will stand side by side with others who believe the future of agriculture must encompass the family farm as the centre of UK agriculture. The FUW, the union of the family farm, will do its utmost to make this happen - for all our futures."

[caption id="attachment_2652" align="aligncenter" width="230"] Emyr Jones (far right) on the family farm near Bala with his sons Dylan (left) and Aled[/caption]

A visit to Brussels this week by a delegation of Farmers' Union of Wales national leaders and Meirionnydd members was an "excellent opportunity" to promote the interests of Wales in Europe and raise awareness of the benefits the agricultural industry in Wales receives from EU membership.

The delegation received a detailed presentation by Wales MEP Jill Evans, who facilitated the visit, about her work and her membership of the European Parliament's environment, public health and food safety committee.

The leading reputation of Welsh farm produce was also highlighted at a breakfast at the EU headquarters, sponsored by Meat Promotion Wales-Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), where the quality of food produced in Wales was showcased.

FUW president and Meirionnydd beef and sheep producer Emyr Jones reminded EU politicians and policy officials attending the function that it was very important for Wales to remain part of the EU.

“We depend so much on funding from Europe, through the Common Agricultural Policy and access to the European market, to keep our family farms alive,” he added.

After returning from Brussels, FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones said: "The delegates were keen to emphasise the importance of a strong voice in Europe and were given examples of how other countries, such as Malta, are represented.

"Malta has a total of 400,000 head of population but has six MEPs in the European Parliament compared to four for Wales which has a population of more than three million."

The delegation held meetings with head of European affairs at the Welsh Government EU office Dr Robert Parry and rural policy adviser and deputy head of office Andrew Aggett, together with Foreign and Commonwealth Office second secretary, agriculture (CAP reform), Rhys Jackson.

"Our discussions provided an excellent opportunity for delegates to question the latest position on issues such as sheep EID, funding to tackle TB, and to seek clarification on the financial discipline of a 2.45 per cent deduction from Single Farm Payments in 2013 to create an emergency fund.

"There was also discussion on the Solidarity Fund from the EU which could be provided to tackle damage as a result of the recent flooding.

"Clarification was also sought on the latest position on the production of smoked skin-on sheepmeat - also known as smokies.

"This issue had been discussed at a recent meeting of the union's Meirionnydd county committee with HCC industry development manager Sion Aron Jones when he confirmed this matter was now in the hands of EFSA - the European Food Safety Authority.

"Smokies are eaten by some minority ethnic communities in the UK and are considered a potential opportunity to expand the sale of Welsh meat."

Jill Evans said: “I was delighted to host this visit by the FUW which provided a good showcase for Welsh produce and led to some very useful discussions, as Emyr Jones has said.

“Plaid Cymru believes that the farming industry is crucial to the economy and needs a viable and sustainable long term future. We voted against the cuts in the EU budget because it meant cuts in the money coming to Wales.

“EU funding through the CAP accounts for 80% of farm income in Wales, and supports over 16,000 farmers. Our priority is to work with the farming community in the interests of our food producers and our rural communities.”

[caption id="attachment_2784" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Dr Robert Parry, Basque Region MEP Inaki Irazabalbetia, Jill Evans and FUW president Emyr Jones[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2785" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW delegation with Jill Evans[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2786" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Huw Jones, FUW vice president Richard Vaughan with delegation members Rachel and Geraint Davies and Dafydd Roberts[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2787" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts, FUW finance and organisation committee member Eifion Huws, Andrew Aggett, and Meirionnydd delegation members Dewi Owen and John Roberts.[/caption]

Neosporosis infection remains a major cause of abortion in UK cattle, farmers were warned at a meeting in Aberystwyth of the Farmers’ Union of Wales animal health and welfare committee.

Neosporosis is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoa Neospora caninum.  Infected cows are known to abort between three and nine months of pregnancy, produce still or premature calves, and/or suffer from repeat abortions.

According to the Moredun Research Centre, infected cattle are three to seven times more likely to abort than uninfected cattle and, with no other obvious clinical signs, the disease can only be diagnosed via a blood test or through a post-mortem test following an abortion.

Infection is not passed through direct cattle-to-cattle contact but infected cattle may pass the parasite to their offspring over several generations and in successive pregnancies.

Today FUW animal health and welfare committee chairman Catherine Nakielny said: “Dogs are a source of infection if they eat livestock material, such as placentas from newly calved cows, that is contaminated by the parasite and then excrete the eggs of the parasite in their faeces onto pasture, feed, water or bedding used by cattle.

“Once ingested, the parasites spread around the body via the bloodstream.  If the animal is pregnant, the parasite can invade the placenta and the foetus causing still births and abortion.

“The parasite can seriously affect the health of infected dogs. However, dogs don’t always display clinical signs,” said Dr Nakielny.

The union is asking those who walk their dogs in the countryside to follow best practise and pick up after their dogs.

“There is currently no vaccine available to protect against Neosporosis but there are some steps that farmers can take to help minimise the risk of livestock becoming infected.

“These include keeping hay, bedding, water and grazing land free of faecal contamination by dogs and the disposing of placentas, foetuses and stillborn calves in a correct and timely manner,” added Dr Nakielny.

Abortions can be caused by a variety of different diseases and the union would advise members to speak to their own vet about this issue.

For further information on Neosporosis please see: http://www.moredun.org.uk/research/research-@-moredun/reproductive-diseases/neospora

A delegation of Farmers’ Union of Wales Meirionnydd members and union officials including president Emyr Jones and deputy president Glyn Roberts travel to Brussels next week to learn more about the latest developments on agricultural issues from a European perspective and to promote Welsh food produce at the European Parliament.

The visit, facilitated by Jill Evans MEP, will be an opportunity for members to better understand the work of the European Parliament and will further provide an opportunity to celebrate the leading reputation of Welsh farm produce at a breakfast function at the Parliament on Tuesday March 4.

FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones said: “The visit will include meetings with Welsh MEPs, head of European affairs at the Welsh Government EU office Robert Parry and rural policy adviser and deputy head of office Andrew Aggett.

“There will also be a tour of the EU Parliament,  a visit to the Parliamentarium and we are, of course, very much looking forward to the breakfast function with produce supplied by Llaeth y Llan fruit yoghurts, Shirgar butter portions from Gower View Foods, dry cured Brecon gammon bacon by Castell Howell Foods Ltd, Brecon pork sausages, Welsh Mustard manufactured by The Welsh Mustard Co Ltd at Aberaeron as well as Perl Wen and Caerffili Cheese from Caws Cenarth.”

The visit will take place just over two months before the European elections on May 22.  “The FUW delegation will emphasise the huge importance and benefits that the agricultural industry in Wales receives from membership of the EU, and that it is questionable whether there would be similar support for our industry from our own Governments if the UK decides not to remain part of the EU after the possible referendum in 2017,” said Mr Jones.

“Wales’ rural communities receive approximately 400 million euros per annum from the CAP which in turn generates hundreds of thousands of pounds without which our economies in Wales rural areas, towns and villages would collapse. Our membership of the EU is also essential in providing us with access to European markets which also delivers billions to our economy.”

Mr Jones acknowledged that there were huge frustrations regarding some EU rules within the farming industry, but expressed concern regarding the perception of EU rules by some.

“Whilst some ridiculous rules such as the burial ban for fallen stock come directly from Europe, most of the rules which frustrate us are either created or gold-plated by the Welsh or UK Government - when you speak to farmers from other areas they often don’t recognise a problem because their governments don’t have an appetite for implementing the rules above their lowest level.

“Brussels does not have a monopoly on creating overly restrictive rules - we have plenty of people in the UK who are experts at it. A vote to leave the EU could mean we lose our funding, lose our access to the EU market into which we export a huge proportion of our produce, but keep the ridiculous rules. ”

The delegation will also underline concerns that the Common Agricultural Policy has moved further away from being a “Common” policy.

“The flexibility introduced under the last CAP negotiations means we are about as far away from a level playing field and common policy as we have been for many years. Wales has no LFA payments and the highest rate of modulation in the EU at 15%, while our main competitors have LFA payments, headage payments, and far lower modulation,” added Mr Jones.