[caption id="attachment_7248" align="alignleft" width="300"]
FUW Flintshire County President Tim Faire, Farming Connect Development Officer Marial Edwards, Guto Bebb MP for Aberconwy, FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts and FUW President Glyn Roberts.[/caption]
A successful annual general meeting has been held by the Flintshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, with trade deals and post-Brexit planning high on the agenda.
The meeting was held on Friday, November 4, at Cilcain Village Hall and was well attended by members.
Speaking at the event were FUW President Glyn Roberts, MP for Aberconwy Guto Bebb, who attended in his Wales Office Minister role and Farming Connect local Development Officer for Flint and Wrexham Marial Edwards.
Members enjoyed discussing #Farming Matters with Guto Bebb, including planning for the agricultural industry post-Brexit, the risk represented by the introduction of trade tariffs, and the importance for farm businesses and the rural economy of securing an appropriate budget for agriculture and rural development.
FUW President Glyn Roberts stressed the importance of careful Brexit planning and explained that the FUW is working hard for Welsh farmers to ensure they get the best possible deal once the UK has made an exit from the European Union.
Mr Roberts said: “The recent decision by the High Court means that the government cannot trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin formal exit negotiations with the EU on its own, which adds further to the confusion already surrounding Brexit planning.
“This decision has introduced more instability at a time when we can really do without it. The Brexit planning process has occupied us for many months now and while we welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent clarification about a timeline for the Article 50 process, we maintain our view that our exit should coincide with the end of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework budgetary period.”
With regard to the imminent trade negotiations with the EU and other regions, Mr Roberts said: “It is essential that new trade policies give Welsh producers maximum benefits, both in terms of exports and domestic markets.”
Farming Connect local Development Officer for Flint and Wrexham Marial Edwards, explained the full range of support and services available under the new, enhanced Farming Connect programme, which includes one to one surgeries, training in various skills and study visits, some of which could be fully funded.
FUW Denbigh and Flint County Executive Officer Assistant, Gwennan Williams, said: “I would like to thank the panel of speakers for their contributions to the evening. We enjoyed the wide ranging discussions and I would also like to thank our members for joining us on the evening. I am sure the arguments put forward will provide much food for thought.”