Members of the Farmers' Union of Wales Glamorgan county executive committee have met Welsh MEP Jill Evans and Scottish MEP Alyn Smith at county chairman Richard Walker's farm to tell the politicians the impact they expect from the current CAP reform proposals.

The MEPs were keen to discover how the proposals were impacting on Glamorgan FUW members and were told that a lack of information and guidance on important policy issues was affecting their ability to make important business decisions.

This was particularly relevant with regard to the uncertainty over how the calculation of Single Farm Payment entitlements would be made in 2015 and confusion over the greening proposals.

Members were also keen to point out that the Welsh Government’s 15% top slicing of Pillar 1 Payments to fund Rural Development measures would place Welsh farmers at a significant disadvantage compared to their counterparts throughout the whole of Europe.

Members noted that the Scottish Government had agreed to include a minimum stocking level in their definition of an active farmer to be used in connection with the eligibility to claim Single Farm Payment from 2015 onwards.

There was also discussion over the Welsh Government’s sheep EID consultation and members were interested to learn the situation that existed in Scotland and to hear how the regulations had applied there.

County vice chairman Phil Thomas asked where legislation stood with regard to the de-beaking of laying hens as he was keen to learn the latest proposals from the European Commission with regards to this subject.

Both MEPs thanked Mr Walker, of Llancarfan, near Barry, and his mother for their kind hospitality and also the Glamorgan members for being able to spare the time to meet them during a busy period of the year.

[caption id="attachment_2838" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] From left, Alyn Smith, FUW finance and organisation committee member for South Wales Lorraine Howells, former FUW Glamorgan county chairman Glyn Jones, FUW deputy agricultural policy director Rhian Nowell-Phillips, Jill Evans, FUW Glamorgan acting county executive officer Glyn Davies and Richie Walker.[/caption]

Gwent's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Ian Johnston has met farmers and Gwent Police’s Farm Watch coordinator to hear first-hand how an online messaging system he supports has helped reduce farm crime by over 27 per cent in just five months.

Mr Johnston met Farmers' Union of Wales member Howard Vicary and other local farmers on Mr Vicary’s farm in Crumlin - that has been repeatedly targeted by thieves - to find out more about the Online Watch Link (OWL) system helping to combat farm crime.

OWL sends out targeted messages via email, phone or SMS alerts about crimes and problems to members like Mr Vicary who have signed up in communities throughout Gwent.

Between September 2013 and January 2014, Gwent Police Farm Watch coordinator CSO Allan Mills has helped increase Farm Watch membership using OWL from 300 to nearly 800 members.

Intelligence gained from the public via Farm watch has helped Gwent Police catch a series of criminals involved in farm and rural-related crime ranging from firearm crimes, crimes against animals to the theft of farm machinery, fuel and metal. The system enables local policing unit commanders to have a joined up approach regarding suspects across Gwent.

FUW's Gwent county branch has played a pivotal role in this success story, with county administrative assistant Helen Thomas actively involved by registering new members and keeping records on OWL up-to-date.

FUW county executive officer Glyn Davies and county chairman Chris Lewis are proud of the fact that the union has been able to assist in achieving such tremendous results and feel OWL gives farmers and other rural people a system to help police reduce crime further and give a greater sense of security.

Since September 2013, CSO Mills has worked full time as the Gwent Farm Watch coordinator.

He said: “Farmers are a special group as they are a bit isolated and hard to reach, but OWL helps break down those barriers and helps us coordinate policing with them.

“It’s the way I communicate with all farmers quickly and I receive regular intelligence about suspicious activity which I wouldn’t have otherwise. The system has enabled us to have a more coordinated approach to tackling farm crime in rural Gwent and allows us to gather vital information to share with the local policing unit commanders.

"The increase in membership means that we’ve got hundreds of extra pairs of eyes and ears out there in the farming community and the farmers now feel they are getting a better service by having instant access to us.”

Mr Johnston said: “The passion of Allan Mills and the other police officers working to enhance relationships with the farming community can’t be denied and I would like to thank all those people making this work because it’s making a big difference.

"Gwent utilises OWL brilliantly as a whole and we now have over 37,000 members registered across all the watches. It’s a great example of police working with partners and members of the community to achieve common goal - to make Gwent a safer place.”

[caption id="attachment_2834" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Allan Mills, Howard Vicary and Ian Johnson[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2835" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Chris Lewis, Helen Thomas and Ian Johnson[/caption]

Welsh farmers are calling for the planning powers of Wales' National Park authorities to be returned to the relevant county councils this year in a cost-cutting move.

The Farmers' Union of Wales debated the issue at their recent quarterly Grand Council meeting in Aberystwyth attended by delegates from counties throughout Wales.

A resolution from the union's Brecon and Radnor county branch, proposed by FUW life member and former deputy national president Glyn Powell, stressed that returning planning responsibilities to local councils would be a first step towards abolishing Wales’ three National Park authorities.

The resolution, which was overwhelmingly carried, pointed out that National Parks have "little economic development responsibilities and as such should not be delivering planning policies".

Delegates agreed that "with huge proposed cuts in public spending in Wales it is seen as a waste of taxpayers’ money to have three extra planning departments specifically for the three National Parks".

Referring to the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Mr Powell, of Sennybridge, near Brecon, told delegates: "People are always on my back about this subject and the bone of contention is the future of the National Park planning authorities, the unfairness of the current system and the inconsistencies of the activities of the Park with regard to planning.

"There are councillors on the authority but we don't choose them, the council does, and the Assembly chooses others. I don't think they understand the traditions of rural Wales.

"The Brecon Beacons National Park stretches over parts of seven counties. Common sense would tell you that it would be better if those counties took responsibility for their own planning responsibilities.

"The majority of people in Breconshire are not happy because they think they are represented by people who don't understand. The core of my argument is fairness.”

Farmers and rural businesses were warned today to be alert for any potential telephone calls requesting them to donate money to schemes allegedly "backed" by North Wales Police promoting safety for schoolchildren in the region.

Staff at the Farmers' Union of Wales Denbigh and Flint county office were told about one member who was contacted yesterday but when the caller refused to provide a name or telephone number he sensibly refused to donate any money.

Some £600,000 has been conned out of farmers in north-west England and Yorkshire recently in another apparent "scam" relating to telephone calls from companies stating the farmer’s bank details need verification and they need to contact their bank to do so.

"If the unsuspecting recipient of the call proceeds to contact their bank immediately afterwards, the 'scammers' are still on the line pretending to be their bank and are able to garner the bank details they require to siphon money from their accounts," said FUW Denbigh and Flint county executive officer Rhys Roberts.

The fraudster holds the line open to intercept the call, and then asks the victim to provide their internet log-in details, customer numbers, passwords or card reader codes to transfer the money into a different account. In reality, the fraudsters transfer the money into their own account.

"An FUW member in Denbighshire received a similar call this week but sensibly ignored it,” said Mr Roberts. “Anyone receiving these types of calls should simply ignore them and should not contact their bank to verify anything related to their account.

"Banks will always write to discuss their customers' business. If you are targeted, call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."