[caption id="attachment_7180" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wales Air Ambulance receiving their award from FUW President Glyn Roberts.[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has recognised the crucial role the Wales Air Ambulance (WAAC) plays in agriculture by awarding it with the Union’s External Services to Agriculture award.

The charity, on average, deals with 20 animal attack incidents and 200 agricultural incidents, which include falls through roof barns and getting trapped in machinery, a year.

The farming community is helped 18 times per month across Wales, and this accounts for about 8% of the overall workload.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Today we thank the Wales Air Ambulance officially for the life saving service they provide every day of the year and honour them with the FUW External Services to Agriculture award.

“The service provided by the Wales Air Ambulance is absolutely vital for the farming industry and everyone who lives or visits rural Wales and might find themselves in need of urgent medical attention.

“From its airbases in Llanelli, Caernarfon and Welshpool, an air ambulance can be anywhere in Wales within 20 minutes of an emergency call. The fast response times, ability to reach difficult locations, and flying patients to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury, greatly improves a patient’s survival and early recovery.”

Since its launch on St David’s Day in 2001, the WAAC has carried out more than 24,000 missions to date, with each mission costing approximately £1500.

The charity launched a fourth aircraft based in Cardiff in 2016 dedicated to its children’s air ambulance operation, providing important neonatal and paediatric transfers for Wales’ youngest patients.

WAAC relies entirely on charitable donations to raise over £6 million each year to keep the helicopters flying for Wales. The charity does not receive any funding from the national lottery or the government.

In 2015 WAAC introduced flying doctors on board its aircraft through a new scheme with the NHS, meaning the charity can provide even more advanced treatments, including blood transfusions and anaesthesia.

Mark Stevens, Wales Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to the Farmers’ Union of Wales for their outstanding support. We receive a great deal of support from farmers for our work, and it enables us to come to the aid of people across Wales.

“Around 120 of our missions per year are agricultural missions. And agricultural injuries tend to be the most severe, that require anaesthesia, chest surgery or blood transfusions at the scene.

“Without the kind donations and support we receive, we wouldn’t be able to keep our helicopters flying. So we would like to thank the FUW for their lifesaving support.”

A proposal by 2 Sisters Food Group to move a retail packing department from its St Merryn premises in Merthyr Tudful to Cornwall would be a major blow to Wales, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has said.

It is understood that around 350 affected staff have been written to regarding the proposal, and are currently in a 45 day consultation period.

FUW’s Finance and Organisation committee South Wales representative Brian Bowen, who farms at Pencoedcae farm, Princetown, near the St Merryn site, said: “The plant employs around 1,000 people, so we are talking about the potential loss of around a third of the workforce.

“This would be a major blow for the local economy and for Wales’ agricultural supply chain as a whole.”

Mr Bowen said the news came at a time when there was already extreme uncertainty about the future due to the vote to leave the European Union.

“The agricultural supply chain employs scores of thousands of people in Wales’ rural and urban areas, and these proposals will come as a major blow to the families affected and the community as a whole, added Mr Bowen.”

The Denbighshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is holding its annual general meeting on Monday, November 14, to discuss issues of concern and #FarmingMatters with members in the county.

The meeting will be held at the Brookhouse Mill, Ruthin Road, Denbigh and is due to start at 7.30pm.

Guest speakers on the night are HSBC North Wales Agriculture Director Bryn Edmunds, FUW Head of Policy Dr. Nick Fenwick and Ifor Williams Trailers Design Engineering Manager Andrew Reece-Jones.

FUW Denbigh and Flint County Executive Officer Assistant Gwennan Williams, said: “Members will be able to discuss various issues and #FarmingMatters, including the effect Brexit has had on the agricultural industry and agricultural policy issues in general with the speakers.

“In addition we look forward to hearing about the success of Ifor Williams Trailers Company.  The presentations will be followed by a question and answer session.

“We hope that as many members as possible will attend this very interesting meeting and I look forward to welcoming you on the night.”

[caption id="attachment_7167" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW members enjoying a game of Whist[/caption]

Members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales Carmarthenshire branch  enjoyed a night of Whist in aid of British Heart Foundation Cymru and raised £400 for the charity.

The event was held on Thursday, October 27, at Cothi Bridge Memorial Hall and was well attended by members and friends of the Union.

BHF are the nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer and their pioneering research has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions and their work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are helping to change the face of the UK’s fight against heart disease.

FUW Carmarthen County Executive Officer David Waters said: “A good night was had by all and I would like to thank everyone that made the effort to come and support us.

“I would also like to thank Cllr Mansel Charles for being the MC on the night and all those who donated prizes for the raffle. The evening was for such a good cause and I hope that we also raised awareness of how much of a problem heart disease is across Wales and the whole of the UK.”