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UW Ceredigion young farmers talk about #FarmingMatters with Dunbia[/caption]
Young farmers from Ceredigion recently came together to discuss #FarmingMatters and the future of lamb exports with Dunbia (Llanybydder) Managing Director, Paul Edwards and Agricultural Manager, Alison Harvey.
The meeting, which was organised by the Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, was held at the Llanybydder site and delegates heard how the plant is going from strength to strength, since the site was taken over from Oriel Jones in 2001.
The Llanybydder plant today has a weekly 300 tonne retail capacity, including slaughter capacity for 33,000 lambs per week and employs approximately 600 people.
Speaking after the visit, FUW Ceredigion County Executive Officer Mared Rand Jones said: “ It was a great meeting and really useful for our young farmers to hear what the future holds for lamb exports from a processor's point of view.
“We discussed many farming matters including Brexit, how to get more lamb on the shelves here at home, TSE regulations and the progress made in exporting our lamb to the US.”
Following the discussions, delegates enjoyed a tour around the factory and followed the full process from slaughter to packaging.
“The tour of the factory was really interesting - seeing the full process from slaughter to packaging the final product is something I would fully recommend to anyone in the business,” added Mared Rand Jones.
Dunbia (Llanybydder) Managing Director, Paul Edwards said: “It is very important that we, as a supply chain, engage with each other, and welcoming a group of young farmers to the factory is an ideal way to do this.
“There is nothing better than seeing the actual product and meeting people who work directly in the business. It is always valuable to engage with young people in the industry and to hear their views.
“We had a good discussion before the tour, and I was really heartened by their enthusiasm and passion to promote Welsh Beef and Lamb, through closer collaboration between producer, processor and the consumer.”