Farmers' Union of Wales members today accused conservation bodies of failing wildlife and contributing to the decline in upland birds by turning a blind eye to predation and scapegoating farmers.

The accusation came in response to claims by Ecology Matters, a Wales-based surveying and research consultancy, that intensive land use and overgrazing by sheep on Pumlumon have resulted in a significant loss of biodiversity including declines since 1984 in golden plover and red grouse numbers of 92 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.

But FUW Ceredigion county chairman Fred Williams said farmers were being used as scapegoats and that conservationists were ignoring the "elephant in the room" - namely increases in predator numbers.

"Welsh ewe numbers have fallen to the same level they were at in 1982, and the numbers in the Pumlumon area have fallen by far more, with vast expanses of land now hardly grazed at all due to agri-environment rules. The area is being farmed far less intensively than it was decades ago.

"These claims are just hollow and conservationists are ignoring one of the major causes of declines in bird numbers which is increases in predator numbers."

Mr Williams said many conservationists took a "see no evil, hear no evil" approach, when it came to damage inflicted on bird populations by predators, and resorted to blaming farming practices as a default position in order to avoid uncomfortable truths.

"People have been farming livestock on Pumlumon since the Iron Age and agriculture has been an important part of the ecosystem for thousands of years."

Mr Williams cited major increases in the number of wild animals known to target ground-nesting birds, including foxes, badgers and crows, as a major problem for many endangered species.

"Badger setts are now found in areas where they never previously existed, including at levels over 1,000 feet, and analyses of badger and fox diets shows that they regularly target ground-nesting birds and their eggs.

"These animals don't exist on fresh air and water and it doesn't take a rocket-scientist to work out that doubling badger and fox numbers means doubling the amount of food they need. Unfortunately, ground nesting birds are at the top of the menu."

Mr Williams added that undergrazing was also a problem in many areas, leading to overgrowth which was unsuitable for many species, and made it easier for predators to sneak up on their prey and find nesting sites. He said that vast forestry plantations also played a role in providing shelter for predators.

Mr Williams said he also had concerns that the proliferation of red kite numbers could also represent a major problem for ground-nesting birds.

"Its great to see a species like the red kite thriving after having been brought back from the verge of extinction but we also have to take care that we don't create a massive problem for the species which red kites prey on.

"Conservationists who bury their heads in the sand and blame farming for all the ills of the world are causing immense harm to our wildlife and must wake up to the damage that allowing predator numbers to rise without check can cause."

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has slammed a decision by the Welsh Government to ignore a key recommendation of the “Working Smarter” report, despite having commissioned the report and accepted the recommendation just months ago.

In an announcement today (Tuesday June 26) the Welsh Government revealed that farming unions had been excluded from a group set up to look at ways in which the Rural Development Plan (RDP) can be used to strengthen rural businesses and Welsh farming.

Yet in February this year, deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies accepted a recommendation in the Gareth Williams “Working Smarter” report that Task and Finish groups should be established and that “both farming unions should be onboard”.

FUW’s land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “In his report, Gareth Williams acknowledged the expertise and experience of the FUW and highlighted the importance of involving us in any such discussions.

“Yet, in response to a question at the FUW’s AGM, the deputy minister told members that he had used his ‘ministerial discretional rights’ to exclude the FUW.”

Mr Williams said that the decision had angered farmers from across Wales.

“We have heard the deputy minister speaking again and again about wanting to work with the farming industry, and the importance of such cooperation was an emphasis in our president’s speech at the AGM.

“This decision goes completely against that principle and is anything but Working Smarter.

“The decision to exclude the expertise of the FUW is extremely short-sighted as our staff and officials have decades of experience in dealing with the complexities of successive Rural Development Plans and ensuring maximum delivery.”

Mr Williams said that the value of the FUW’s experience had been demonstrated again and again and decisions by previous administrations to ignore FUW advice had led to numerous problems and plans later having to be changed in line with the union’s views.

“The decision to exclude those stakeholders who are most affected by the Rural Development Plan beggars belief and makes Mr Davies’ claims of wanting to work with the farming industry appear hollow,” added Mr Williams.

[caption id="attachment_3683" align="aligncenter" width="550"] FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts presents the union’s annual internal and external awards to Eifion Huws and Ffermio team members.[/caption]

Prick his finger and milk will flow out, was how Anglesey dairy farmer Eifion Huws was described when nominated for the Farmers' Union of Wales annual internal award recognising services to the union and the agricultural industry in Wales.

Mr Huws runs a 140-head pedigree Ayrshire herd at Penrhos, Bodedern and was presented with his award during the FUW's annual general meeting in Aberystwyth today (Friday June 22).

The dairy herd has an outstanding production and show record and Mr Huws is a long established and highly respected Ayrshire cattle judge.

He has been an active member of the FUW’s central finance and organisation committee for the past six years and has also been chairman of the union’s milk and dairy produce committee.

He travels the length and breadth of the country, and to Europe, representing the dairy industry in the hope of acquiring better conditions and prices for farmers.

Over the years, he has become well known in the media for his outspoken views on matters concerning the dairy industry and, recently, on the collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain, of which he was a member.

His other interests include the local YFC at Bodedern of which he has held most posts including president and club leader.

He is particularly concerned about the future of Wales’ young people and their struggle to obtain employment, housing, and capital to farm in their local areas and practices what he preaches by encouraging his son Iwan, a partner in the family business, to stay at home to farm.

Eifion has represented his local branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales for many years and has been chairman of the Ynys Môn committee of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution for the past 11 years.

“His wealth of knowledge within the industry is second to none and his renowned ability to support his fellow farmers is priceless," said Dei Davies, current chairman of FUW's milk and dairy produce committee.

[caption id="attachment_3810" align="aligncenter" width="500"] FUW president Emyr Jones - left - and guest speaker Deputy Agriculture Minister Alun Davies taken during last Friday’s FUW AGM in Aberystwyth.[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales and the Welsh Government should work together for the good of the industry was the key message spelled out by the union's leader today (Friday June 22).

Among the issues raised by Bala farmer Emyr Jones during FUW's annual general meeting was the Welsh Government’s CAP Reform position statement in response to the "most important debate" for the farming industry.

Mr Jones, whose speech was followed by an address and question and answer session by Deputy Agriculture Minister Alun Davies, also referred to the need for an LFA support scheme, the U-turn over a badger cull in north Pembrokeshire, Gareth Williams’ Working Smarter report and the Glastir agri-environment scheme.

[caption id="attachment_3683" align="aligncenter" width="550"] FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts presents the union’s annual internal and external awards to Eifion Huws and Ffermio team members.[/caption]

The production team of a popular Welsh-language television programme about farming and rural life was today (Friday June 22) awarded the Farmers' Union of Wales annual external award for services to the agricultural industry in Wales.

The team behind S4C's Ffermio programme and website received the award during the union's annual general meeting in Aberystwyth.

Telesgop, now based in Swansea, has produced Ffermio since 1996 after Richard Rees and Elin Rhys first met S4C in a bid to win the contract.  He previously worked on agricultural programmes with the BBC and they had a strong team of presenters to support their bid - Sulwyn Thomas, Gerallt Pennant and Rachael Garside.

As a company they have fond memories of the moment Siân Ann Davies received a fax from S4C informing them that the bid had been successful!

At the time, the office was located in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, but as time went on Telesgop grew into a company with considerable expertise in agricultural and rural matters.

As well as Richard, a number of producers/directors have consistently worked on the series, including Dyfrig Davies, as producer and senior producer, Sioned McCue, Mererid Wigley, Lynne Thomas Morgan, Terwyn Davies, Arwyn Williams and Huw Williams.

By now, Gwawr Lewis and Meinir Jones have become producers after spending a number of years as researchers. Young researcher Elin Mair Rees recently joined the team.

Following filming, the pictures are edited in Swansea. Trystan Rowlands and Dai Rees have been with the company since the start and, more recently, Geraint Reynolds has completed the editing team.

Siân Thomas, Siân Ann Davies, Sarah Hendre and Keith Evans also work behind the scenes dealing with the administration and the whole team’s commitment to rural life is responsible for ensuring the high standard of the series.

By 2005, there had been a number of changes to the programme. New presenters were introduced - Daloni Metcalfe, Alun Elidir and Iola Wyn. Mererid Wigley presented the bulletin and the company moved from Llandeilo to Swansea Bay.

Meinir Jones is now one of the presenters, having a strong agricultural background. There’s an annual chance to enter a competition to win trailers, donated by Ifor Williams, of Corwen, and the competition is increasing in popularity year on year.

"The majority of the workforce come from an agricultural background and live amongst the audience in the countryside," said FUW president Emyr Jones.

"S4C has to be congratulated for providing a service such as Ffermio and for its acknowledgement of the industry's importance to Wales."

Elin Rhys said: "2001 was a poignant and difficult year for the industry due to Foot and Mouth disease and Ffermio operated as a special service for Welsh farmers with two live programmes broadcast every week.

"It was not possible to film on farms due to the restrictions so the programmes were broadcast live from studios in Cardiff with the staff operating a helpline every night after each broadcast.

"This was a period when staff realised how close the relationship is with our audience and how dependant the industry is on help, advice and sympathy during difficult and sad times.

"Over the years, a precious relationship developed with farmers, food producers, unions, and rural organisations and the team has immense respect for the agricultural community. That respect ensures the team always give their best back to the audience.

"Telesgop embraces digital technology and the service of www.ffermio.tv has been available for a number of years to provide extra information to our audience.

"Richard and the whole team are very grateful to FUW for this credit to Ffermio, and Telesgop, and we are proud that we can contribute to an industry that is so crucial to our economy, language and culture."

[caption id="attachment_3679" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] FUW Glamorganshire vice chairman Phil Thomas with FUW president Emyr Jones and Jill Evans MEP[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3680" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] FUW president Emyr Jones[/caption]

A Glamorganshire free-range egg farmer today (Friday June 15) complained to a Wales MEP of unfair competition from EU countries failing to comply with legislation banning battery hen cages and replacing them with bigger "enriched" cages with a nesting area, litter for scratching and perches.

Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans visited Park Farm, near Bridgend - owned and run by Farmers' Union of Wales Glamorganshire vice chairman Phil Thomas - which has 6,000 egg-laying hens.

The purpose of her visit was to discuss the issues around EU legislation (the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive) - passed in 1999 but only introduced in January this year - banning conventional battery cages for egg laying hens in all EU countries.

"But despite having had more than 12 years to prepare for the Directive, it is being suggested nearly a quarter of EU cage egg production is from hens still in barren battery cages in 2012," said Mr Thomas.

The EC's advisory group on poultry meat and eggs was told on March 16, that there were still 12 non-compliant member states, with 49 million hens non-compliant.

The Commission was not prepared to provide details on the levels of non-compliance in each of these member states as there is a legal process currently underway which could result in referral to the European Court of Justice and fines if those member states fail to meet the July 2012 deadline for the closure of all conventional cage units on their territory.

According to written evidence submitted by the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) to the UK Parliament's environment, food and rural affairs committee in April, the UK was fully compliant with the new legislation from February 13 2012 and all producers within the Lion Quality assurance scheme were compliant from January 1.

"Those EU member states who have taken no action have resulted in the importation of EU battery caged hen eggs into the UK leaving farmers at a financial disadvantage and unable to compete with the import of cheaper eggs into our supermarkets," Mr Thomas told Ms Evans.

"Many large manufacturers in the UK purchase egg in processed form, principally liquid or powder in order to make a wide variety of food types including cakes, quiches and mayonnaise and there is concern that liquid egg from non-compliant EU countries may be imported into the UK.

"Without the required stamp on every egg shell to state its origins, it is almost impossible to tell whether an egg in liquid form has been transported from a battery farm or free-range farm," said Mr Thomas.

"As the UK, along with other EU countries, change their farming habits it is inevitable that these additional requirements will increase costs for compliant farmers forcing them to compete against the cheaper egg products from non-compliant EU countries," Mr Thomas added.

He bought Park Farm about three years ago and its hens roam free range over 22 acres of land surrounding the barn.

Mr Thomas has one supplier, Noble Foods, who collect the eggs every Monday and Friday. Noble brands include "happy egg" and "EGGS FOR SOLDIERS" and the company collects eggs from more than 520 locations from the Highlands of Scotland to Cornwall.