Rural crime and policing were on the agenda when North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin called in to see FUW President Glyn Roberts at his farm near Betws y Coed.
For Glyn, who farms Dylasau Uchaf, Padog with his daughter Beca Glyn it was an opportunity to discuss the latest initiatives to detect and combat crime such as collars that detect when stock are running, gauges that indicate a diesel tank is being emptied and even pressure pads under quad bikes.
Relative cuts to Wales' agricultural and rural development funding allocation announced in the latest spending review break the Conservative manifesto pledge not to cut rural funding for the second year running, the Farmers' Union of Wales has said.
The UK budget and spending review announced on Wednesday (27 October) revealed that an average of £300 million a year would be allocated to Wales for agriculture and rural development over the next three financial years.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging people to remember the distress fireworks and sky lanterns can cause to livestock and pets this year.
With bonfire night fast approaching and the understandable excitement after the cancellation of so many displays last year, the organisation was keen to wish people a great time but reminded them of the dangers posed by bonfires and fireworks.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales Caernarfon Branch has raised the issue of livestock worrying and dog attacks with Aberconwy MP Robin Millar following an increase of incidents in recent weeks. Farmers who keep sheep on the Carneddau range in Caernarfonshire have lost close to 20 sheep in recent weeks due to attacks by dogs, the MP heard.
Henry Williams of Gwern Gof Isaf, Capel Curig has lost sheep due to dog attacks, as has Elfed Jackson from Braich Tŷ Du, Nant Ffrancon near Bethesda.
Mr Jackson noted: “People just don’t realise the stress and heartache such incidents causes us. And even worse is the attitude of many dog owners who are in denial that their dog would do such a thing. I’ve returned a couple of dogs to their owners recently and just about managed to get a “sorry” from them. They need to understand the full implications of their dog not being under control when walking on the open mountains like we have here.”
Henry Williams added: “It breaks our hearts to have to see the result of an attack by dogs. It’s bad enough when one or two have suffered, but when it gets into double figures it’s even worse. Added to that stress is then the need to carry the carcasses down from the mountain by hand, which is no easy task when you have the local authority insisting that they are cleared immediately. I’m not sure if they realise what they are actually asking us to do.”
Farmers from Carmarthenshire took the opportunity to quiz their prospective Senedd Members for the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency at a virtual hustings, which was hosted jointly on Zoom by the FUW, Wales YFC and NFU Cymru, on Tuesday 13 April.
Speaking after the meeting, FUW Carmarthenshire County Executive Officer David Waters said: “Many members of the farming community took up this opportunity to pose questions to those that seek to represent them in Cardiff for the next Welsh Senedd term.
“The big questions around NVZs, river pollution by water companies and future Welsh policies were high on the agenda and the FUW will continue to lobby on these.”
