[caption id="attachment_3598" align="aligncenter" width="500"] From left: Anwen Jones, Iwan Jones, North Wales Liberal Democrat AM and shadow minister for children, education and the Welsh language at the National Assembly Aled Roberts, Farmers’ Union of Wales president Emyr Jones and Tudur Jones[/caption]

Town met country when former mayor of Wrexham Aled Roberts went on a "steep learning curve" by visiting the Conwy Valley farms of two Farmers' Union of Wales members.

Since last year Mr Roberts has been a North Wales Liberal Democrat AM and shadow minister for children, education and the Welsh language at the National Assembly.

He previously served the Ponciau ward on Wrexham County Borough Council from 1991 and was the town's mayor in 2003-04 before being elected leader of the council in March 2005.

During the farm visits he discussed topical issues - including the milk industry, the Glastir agri-environment scheme and CAP reform - with FUW officials and both farming families.

At Tudur and Anwen Jones' Ty'n Rhos Farm in Pentrefoelas, Mr Roberts was told they milk 80 cows and have a flock of around 300 ewes.

He learned that Ty'n Rhos is one of the few remaining farms in the area still producing milk and that the biggest burden for many milk producers has been the rises in production cost, particularly over the last five years.

"It is difficult to shop around for a processor who will give us a better price for our milk in this part of the country, which will better cover increases in production cost," said Mr Jones.

He told Mr Roberts Ty'n Rhos managed to gain sufficient points to qualify to join the Glastir scheme because he was a dairy farmer with a mountain.

"Unfortunately we've been refused the Agricultural Carbon Reduction and Efficiency Scheme (ACRES) Element funding and we still don't know what we may get under the upper level element.

"It was very difficult for us to make a business decision as we did not have all the facts to hand, and we still don't, which is an unbelievable situation in itself.

"The lack of information meant our decision to join was very much a step in the dark, so I can understand why others have been reluctant to join."

After having lunch at Y Felin in Ysbyty Ifan - courtesy of Eleri Roberts, one of five local farming wives offering various services to ensure memorable wedding ceremonies and breakfasts - Aled Roberts visited the nearby farm of FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts to discuss CAP issues in more depth, the Welsh Government's penalty regime, bovine TB and sheep EID.

Afterwards, Aled Roberts said: "This has been a very steep learning curve for me as a town person who hasn't been in tune with the agriculture industry for decades.

"I've had a very informative day during which I've been given valuable advice on the many issues that are currently of greatest concern to the industry."

Glyn Roberts said he was glad of the opportunity to convey union members' concerns to the AM and to emphasise how important the industry is - not only to the rural areas of the country - but to the economy of Wales as a whole, and everyone involved with the backbone of the language and culture of Wales.

[caption id="attachment_3561" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW Insurance area officer Dylan Evans ,right, clinches the sponsorship deal with Fferm Ffactor winner Malcolm Davies[/caption]

Welsh insurance broker FUW Insurance has decided to sponsor S4C TV agricultural programme “Fferm Ffactor” winner Malcolm Davies from the Llyn Peninsula.

Mr Davies's prize for winning the title was an Isuzu Rodeo Denver 4x4 and FUW Insurance will provide free insurance for the vehicle for one year.

FUW Insurance West Caernarfonshire area officer Dylan Evans said: "We are pleased to be associated with Malcolm's wonderful achievement in winning the Fferm Ffactor title.

"Sponsoring the insurance on his new vehicle gives us the chance to show that we can offer competitive insurance rates for all rural-based businesses.

"FUW Insurance is supported by a panel of specialist agriculture and commercial insurance companies and our field force of 30 area officers and two regional managers work closely with farmers to make sure they have the cover needed to protect their businesses.

"Our staff understand the needs of the rural community and will be there when needed to give all our rural business customers a professional, locally-based service."

Malcolm, a 38-year-old dairy farmer, of Dinas, near Pwllheli, beat off the challenges of Aled Roberts, of Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, and Sam Carey of Rhoshill, Pembrokeshire, in what was dubbed the closest final in the history of the Fferm Ffactor series.

He said his prize of a new pick-up was a dream come true. "The 4.x4 Isuzu Rodeo Denver couldn’t have arrived at a better time as our old pick-up had packed up.”

Farmers' Union of Wales president Emyr Jones today described Welsh Government figures showing that total income from farming rose by over 30 per cent last year as "great news".

Mr Jones said: “Against the backdrop of the very low incomes seen over most of the last decade, it is great news that the rewards for so much hard work, and producing food which is second to none, have grown.

“It should give confidence to the industry as a whole, and particularly our young people, that their passion, skills and hard work can bring rewards.

"It also highlights the importance of having a Government which supports agriculture and recognises the major part agriculture has to play in Wales’ economy in terms of directly supporting the wider community and providing primary produce for the food supply and processing chains.

"The multiplier effect of every pound generated by Welsh agriculture is immense."

But Mr Jones also warned: “As with any industry, there are always concerns about what might be just around the corner, whether in the form of emerging diseases such as the Schmallenberg virus, the Euro exchange rate or the impact of CAP reform.

"There is always room for improvement and more work to be done, but that should not be allowed to overshadow this positive news.”

The Welsh Government statistics revealed total income from farming rose by 31 per cent to £209.5 million in 2011. They also show the value of agricultural output produced in Wales in 2011 was approximately £1,393 million, an increase of 12 per cent on 2010, which generated a 25 per cent increase in Gross Value Added (GVA) from agriculture.

The rises are attributed to greater output and higher market prices as well as the effect of the exchange rate on the value of Single Payment Scheme (SPS) payments to farmers.

[caption id="attachment_3556" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Yves Madre - left - welcomes Glyn Roberts to the EU Commission offices in Brussels.[/caption]

Farmers' Union of Wales deputy president Glyn Roberts has attended a meeting with two cabinet members of EC agriculture and rural development commissioner Dacian Ciolo?' for Common Agricultural Policy reform talks during a recent visit to Brussels.

At the meeting, Mr Roberts, of Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws y Coed, underlined the union's concerns over a number of issues - including the need for a realistic transition period and the union's own model for entitlements, greening and new entrants - with Yves Madre and Welshman Gwilym Jones.

"It was a very positive meeting where a range of detailed issues were debated. The Commission are currently in 'listening' mode on the CAP reform proposals and we used the opportunity to highlight the need for flexibility within the regulations to minimise the impacts the reforms will have on farmers in Wales," said Mr Roberts.