The Farmers' Union of Wales today warned farmers to double check their Single Application Form (SAF) acknowledgment letters to make sure they do not lose out due to computer scanning errors or if any of the information is incorrect.

"Although the busy time of completing SAF forms came to an end on May 15, it is imperative that farmers look carefully at the acknowledgement letter they receive from their Welsh Government Divisional Office," said FUW’s Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones.

"Farmers who have submitted their forms early will have already received their acknowledgement as receipts are usually sent within 10 days of submission.

"But those who have submitted their forms in the days running up to May 15 will not have received acknowledgements by now so it's vitally important that they make sure they get a receipt and when it is to hand that it is checked for accuracy.

"The receipt gives a summary of the claim, detailing the schemes claimed and a list of the fields, stocking numbers etc. The acknowledgement letter is also an opportunity to detect any scanning errors.

"Any missing data should be notified to the Divisional Office before June 10 to allow an amendment, although this could attract a late claim penalty.

"In past years a number of SAF scanning errors were discovered by FUW county executive offices across Wales and had they gone unnoticed members could have lost a significant amount of money. Thankfully, our staff and members spotted them by cross-checking against photocopies of original SAF forms.

"Every year the FUW deals with members who have been debited large amounts due to minor errors on extremely complicated forms and some end up losing sums that are equivalent to their entire annual incomes.

"Very few of those people get their money back due to the strict enforcement of EU rules relating to obvious errors and exceptional circumstances, and checking these statements and reporting errors is the one and only chance people get to prevent this happening."

Welsh farmers are concerned about the findings of a new report which claims wildlife in Wales is in crisis despite a legacy of many years of agri-environmental management schemes. the Farmers' Union of Wales stressed today.

The State of Nature report, launched in Cardiff last night by TV and wildlife presenter Iolo Williams alongside Welsh conservation charities, concludes wildlife in Wales is at a crisis point.

Scientists from 25 wildlife organisations have compiled a stock take of our native species - the first of its kind in Wales and the UK.

Their report reveals that across the UK, 60% of the species studied have declined over recent decades and it is suspected this trend is mirrored in Wales.

"Obviously, we are concerned about some of the issues raised by the report, particularly as so many farmers in Wales have embraced agri-environmental schemes and management," said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams.

"Despite the difficulties associated with the current Glastir Scheme, many farmers have historically embraced agri-environmental schemes and it is therefore extremely concerning that the report suggests that some species are in decline.

"The union believes that it is extremely important that the environmental management that farmers are contracted to do in good faith is recognised and that the impact of the recent trend towards de-stocking the uplands for example is addressed as a matter of some urgency.

"It's clear from the report that there needs to be more Wales-specific data available on the state of some of these species as there is great potential for farmers and conservationists to work together to balance the needs of biodiversity with food production and food security in the future."

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed a recommendation by MPs that legislation should be introduced to protect farmers from farmgate milk price cuts if improvements fail to materialise under the existing dairy voluntary code of practice.

In a report published today, the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee says the voluntary code must be given a chance to work but, if tangible improvements are not forthcoming, the Government must be prepared to legislate.

"Although the code comes with quite a lot of caveats, we do support it and are willing to give it a chance," said FUW senior policy officer Hazel Wright. "But what we need to look at is some form of legislation that will come in swiftly if the code does not work.”

Dr Wright said that evidence was already emerging regarding processors opting out of the code, in full or in part.

"As such, there needs to be the threat of legislation and I think that will help push the code forward.

"The ability of the code to work for every producer to the same degree is probably limited and we have concerns that purchasers will cherry-pick elements of the code that they want and leave producers in a slightly worse position."

Dr Wright said the recently-established Groceries Adjudicator’s powers should also be expanded. "We would like to see a system whereby the dairy code is properly policed so that we can tell straightaway if the purchasers are cherry-picking and if they are not playing fair,” she added.

In written evidence to the committee the union stated that Wales has about 1,900 dairy farmers - about 20% of the total amount in England and Wales - yet the number of farmers has declined steadily since the end of the last century.

Compared to 2002 there are 40% fewer dairy farmers in Wales and last summer the industry suffered a major crisis caused by price cuts announced by retailers and processors. Although some price cuts were later withdrawn, the long-term sustainability of the industry remains uncertain.

[caption id="attachment_2393" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Dilwyn and Geraint (right) Jenkins in the milking parlour at Cerrigcaranau Farm, Talybont, near Aberystwyth[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2394" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Before taking evidence at Aberystwyth University last November, Welsh Affairs Committee members paid a 45-minute visit to 510-acre Cerrigcaranau Farm at nearby Talybont to hear the views of dairy farmer and FUW member Dilwyn Jenkins and his sons Eifion (29) and Geraint (25). Pictured (from left) are FUW vice president Brian Walters, farmer's son Geraint Jenkins, Mark Williams MP, David Davies MP, Jonathan Edwards MP, FUW Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones and farmer's son Eifion Jenkins in discussions.[/caption]

A “Question Time” session entitled “Supporting Future Farmers in Wales” will take place during Farmers’ Union of Wales Carmarthenshire county branch's annual general meeting on Monday June 3 at Llanarthne Hall (7.30pm).

The panel will consist of Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards, FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts, Agri Advisors Solicitors director Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones and Carmarthenshire YFC rural affairs committee chairman Iestyn Davies.

For further details contact FUW's Carmarthenshire county office on 01267 237974.