A lorry load of fodder donated by farmers in the Aberystwyth area has been sent to Somerset to feed livestock on a farm struck by the recent floods.
The load of silage was delivered from a collection point at Aberystwyth livestock market directly to a farm more than 160 miles away at Stoke St Gregory, near Taunton.
Donors Dafydd and Delyth Jones, of Brynceiro, Ponterwyd, also co-ordinated the deliveries from the other farmers including John Hughes, Pencwm, Penrhyncoch; Dafydd Jenkins, Tanrallt, Talybont; Glyn Rowlands, Creignant, Bontgoch; James Raw, Tyllwyd, Cwmystwyth; Emyr Davies, Llety Ifan Hen, Bontgoch; and Julian Fenwick, Llynlloedd, Machynlleth.
Cefin Evans, of Cwmwythig Farm adjoining the collection point at Lovesgrove, loaded the bales on to the lorry generously donated by D J Thomas a’i Feibion, of Lampeter, and driven by Richie Richards, of Aberaeron.
Farmers' Union of Wales Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones said: "We are working closely with the official co-ordinator for fodder in Somerset as the procedure has now changed. Instead of fodder going to Sedgemoor Market it is now being transported directly to the farms in need of fodder.
"We have also set up a special fund to collect donations to help pay for diesel and haulage costs. If anybody wishes to make a contribution, cheques can be made out to ‘Apêl FUW Somerset’ and sent to any FUW office.
"A total of five loads have gone to help farmers in Somerset from Ceredigion with another five loads currently being organised in south Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. All donations of fodder and money are greatly appreciated by us, and the farmers in Somerset struggling to feed their animals."
Another load from the Boncath area left this morning for a farm in Lanport and a load from Coedybryn, Llandysul, is due to be delivered tomorrow to a farm in Wells, with more loads going at the weekend.
That makes six loads of fodder weighing a total of 145 tons from West Wales that Mr Rees has arranged for delivery.
Farmers able to donate fodder and hauliers able to provide transport to make deliveries to Somerset can contact FUW's Ceredigion county chairman Aled Rees on 01239 810379 / 07968 386039 or via email:
[caption id="attachment_2816" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
COLLECTION POINT: Caryl Wyn-Jones (furthest left), Ieuan Evans (on the lorry), children Alun Eifion Wyn Roberts and Ynyr and Bedwyr Jenkins, farmers Dafydd Jenkins, Dafydd Jones and Aled Owen, and Cefin Evans (furthest right).[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2817" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
LOADING FODDER: Ieuan Evans and Cefin Evans[/caption]