The Glamorgan branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has organised a hustings event for farmers and all those who have an interest in agriculture, which will provide a platform to quiz general election candidates on #FarmingMatters and other issues.

The event is held on Wednesday 31 May at the Duke of Wellington Pub, 48 High Street, Cowbridge, and will start at 7.30pm.

FUW Glamorgan CEO Rachel Saunders said: “It is essential for farmers and landowners to have the opportunity to question and query party candidates as well as hearing their views on the future of rural Wales.  I urge our members and everyone who has an interest in the countryside to attend this event, so that they can make a fully informed decision on 8 June.”

For further information contact the FUW Cowbridge office on 01446 774838.

The FUW’s central dairy committee has branded a two day delay to the introduction of quarantine units in Wales as a miniscule step in the right direction compared with what is needed ahead of the show season.

The Welsh Government recently extended the deadline by which around 6,000 animal isolation facilities would become legally redundant and have to be replaced by certified quarantine units - but only from the 10th of June to the 12th of June.

Farmers were written to regarding the changes in April, and again in mid May, but application forms for quarantine units were not available until 10th May.

“The two day delay is clearly welcome for those attending shows on the 10th and 11th of June, but on the 12th the problem rears its head again,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.

“We have asked for the implementation date to be moved to the autumn to allow more time for people to understand the new system and get certified, and to avoid the main show period.

“The extremely proscriptive nature of the rules means these units take time to build, and establishment costs are high - in addition to certification costs.”

Mr Roberts said the committee were extremely concerned that those who fail to establish quarantine units and get them certified in time would be unable to overcome problems caused by the six-day standstill rule where shows were held within days of each other.

“Many people have contacted me raising these concerns, and there are real worries that people will pull entries out of smaller shows in order to prioritise the large ones,” added Mr Roberts.

The FUW had made it clear in its response to a Welsh consultation on introducing quarantine units that abolishing established isolation units was a major concern, and that the onerous and burdensome nature of the rules would be an obstacle for many.

“Our concerns are now exacerbated by the rapid timetable for introduction, so delaying implementation by a few months would be a very sensible move,” said the Union President.

The Denbigh branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has organised a hustings event for farmers and all those who have an interest in agriculture, which will provide a platform to quiz general election candidates on #FarmingMatters and other issues.

The event is held on Tuesday 30 May at Llanfwrog Community Centre ( Tennis Club), Mwrog Street, Ruthin and will start at 7.30pm. The hustings is open to all.

FUW Denbigh and Flintshire CEO Mari Dafydd Jones said: “It is essential for farmers and landowners to have the opportunity to question and query party candidates as well as hearing their views on the future of rural Wales. I urge our members and everyone who has an interest in the countryside to attend this event, so that they can make a fully informed decision on 8 June.”

For further information contact the FUW Ruthin office on: 01824 707198

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the recommendation of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee that Wales should set a national target date for freedom from bovine TB.

Alongside a national target date, the report, which was published earlier this month, recommends that interim targets be set for TB eradication in each of the three risk areas within Wales.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer said: “Other countries, such as New Zealand, Ireland and England have established bovine TB eradication programmes which set target dates for being TB free and the FUW has consistently highlighted this in recent months.

“Having a target date for Wales to be officially TB free provides clarity on the process and focusses the eradication programme. More importantly, it provides accountability and allows the industry to evaluate whether the strategy is working.”

In addition to calls for TB free targets, the Committee report includes 12 recommendations for the future of bovine TB eradication in Wales. These include maintaining reasonable compensation rates, a move towards a regional approach and voluntary risk-based trading.

Committee members also agreed with a proposal to begin targeted badger removal in herds with persistent TB breakdowns.

In responding to the Welsh Government's Refreshed Eradication Programme consultation, the FUW maintained that the risk based trading approach implemented in New Zealand and Australia was coupled with inherent wildlife management.  

“The FUW is pleased to see recognition of the need to deal with wildlife and we would seek to ensure that any strategy for badger removal be extended if benefits could be conferred elsewhere in Wales.

“Whilst the report recommends that any strategy for badger removal should be reviewed and monitored, the Union would also seek to ensure that cattle control policies are offered the same evaluation to ensure that they remain scientifically valid and fit-for-purpose.  

“The current Welsh TB programme continues to focus almost entirely on cattle controls which cannot address the major source of infection that exists in badgers in large areas of Wales. Indeed, highlighting the success of the informed purchasing approaches in New Zealand and Australia, without acknowledging those countries’ commitments to tackling their disease reservoirs is disingenuous.

“As such, FUW members believed that any moves towards risk-based trading should only be introduced if accompanied by a genuine commitment by Government to tackle the disease reservoir present in large parts of Wales,” added Dr Wright.