Even before December 12th, 2019 had been one of the most unusual periods in British politics in recent decades, as arguments over Brexit further divided Parliament, political parties and the nation; Government ministers continued to resign in droves; three proposed Brexit dates came and went; MPs were expelled from or defected between parties; and the Westminster Government was defeated in court cases that went to the very heart of the UK’s parliamentary democracy.

Against this often bewildering background, growing concerns about the impact of climate change led to the rapid rise of the Extinction Rebellion movement and commitments to slash UK greenhouse gas emissions, while for Welsh farmers it has increasingly felt that the media has deliberately adopted an anti-red meat agenda by failing to discriminate between the environmental footprint of different forms of food production around the globe.

Closer to home, with rock-bottom beef prices already shattering confidence, the Welsh Government’s plans to introduce costly regulations in the form of an effective all-Wales Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) merely added to fears, while the conciliatory tone of a consultation on future Welsh farm support suggested that at least some of the dangers of the proposals put forward in 2018 had been recognised - but not the core worry that Wales deserves a dynamic, carefully crafted scheme aimed at tackling modern challenges, rather than one based on the decades-old concept of payments for environmental public goods.

With the December 12th election results having delivered a seventy-eight seat majority to the Conservatives, including many in traditional Labour-voting constituencies, 2020 will be a very different year to what it might otherwise have been.

Firstly, and most importantly, this majority has meant Parliament has now ratified the EU Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration, meaning the UK will almost certainly leave the European Union on the 31st January 2020, triggering an eleven-month period of UK-EU negotiations during which a long term trade deal with the EU will hopefully be agreed and ratified.

As such, February 1st 2020 marks the start of the ‘real’ Brexit negotiations, and for most people it is likely to feel like very little has changed.

Many have speculated that the extension of the Withdrawal Period to beyond December 2020 is likely, given the complexity of what must be negotiated and the infrastructure, such as new border controls, that must be put in place before the end of the period.

While keeping the promise to ‘get Brexit done’ rapidly will be a political focus for Boris Johnson, the FUW maintains its long-held view that we must get Brexit done safely, over a realistic timescale that ensures a UK- EU trade deal which delivers full and unfettered access for our Welsh produce to EU markets.

With the UK Government now representing many former Labour constituencies where jobs in manufacturing and other areas are particularly reliant on access to EU markets, and a majority that significantly dilutes the power within the Conservative party of those who support harder forms of Brexit, this raises some hopes that an UK-EU trade deal which is more favourable for Welsh farmers might be secured.

However, the obstacles to achieving this are significant, given the apparent clash between the stated objectives of the Conservative Party in relation to increased sovereignty and freedom to trade with non-EU countries, and the EU’s desire to protect its internal markets and standards.

Of course, with February 1st 2020 also marking the date on which formal trade negotiations can start with countries such as the USA - a country with an economy which is seven times more powerful than that of the UK - the risk that we might sign up to disadvantageous deals which introduce unfair competition from farmers in countries where health, hygiene, welfare and environmental standards fall well short of those required of us, remains a real spectre.

Far from being unfounded, there is plenty of evidence that such disadvantageous trade deals could not only be struck, but that UK farmers could simultaneously be hit with further restrictions and regulations: Successive agriculture ministers have spoken about raising UK standards and restricting animal movements after Brexit, while leaked notes from informal UK-US trade discussions held earlier this year refer to lowering food standards and reducing food labelling to allow imports of US food, as well as the exclusion of conditions relating to climate change from any future trade agreement.

With environmental issues, and in particular greenhouse gas emissions, a clear priority for all UK political parties, and a US administration which denies the very existence of man-made climate change and allows production standards UK farmers would regard as unethical, the political desire to show a trade deal can be reached with the US must not be allowed to compromise our farming and food industry.

Critical to trade negotiations over the coming year will be the tariffs and Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs)  which apply on imported goods - taxes and limits which can be adjusted in order to secure better deals with other countries. But with the Import Tariff (Reduction) Bill 2017-19 setting draft tariff and TRQ rates at bargain basement levels for agricultural imports, and suggestions by the Prime Minister that checks on imports from Northern Ireland may not even be applied, it is imperative that the new UK Government review these rates and align them with those of the EU. And if there is any suggestion that UK producers and standards are to be compromised through a trade deal, whether with the US or elsewhere, our industry must be prepared to stand up and make its objections known.

Whichever political party they represent, MPs from rural constituencies in particular must recognise the dangers for their constituents of trade deals which disadvantage farming, while we must hope that, in the interest of a well-functioning democracy, those parties which have been so damaged by the election quickly regroup to take up the essential role of becoming effective in opposition, and scrutinising Government.

While the Brexit issue clearly inflicted damage on Labour and the Liberal Democrats at the 2019 election, this was far from being the only factor, and many Labour politicians have been open in expressing their fear that the party has lost touch with traditional working communities through its adoption of a far-left cosmopolitan agenda.

As the central Labour Party take stock, and deliberate as to whether or not this is the case, it is also important for Welsh Labour and Assembly Members from all parties to do the same: After twenty years of devolution, Cardiff Bay seems more remote than ever for the working families in our farming and rural communities, while radical policies such as plans to open up rural access for canoeists and mountain-bikers seem aimed far more at pleasing the cosmopolitan urban elite than meeting the needs of hard-working families.

Such frank statements make uncomfortable reading, but I make no apology for telling it as it is; and with 2020 likely to be critical to the future of our industry we will continue over the coming year to ensure our family farms are placed at the heart of all future policies.

This would not be possible without the commitment of FUW staff and officials across Wales, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work in 2019, and wish all Members, staff and colleagues all the very best for 2020.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and it is a great opportunity to talk and share your thoughts before starting the day.

In order to promote the health benefits and have a good catch up before the day starts, Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) teams across the country are once again hosting a variety of farmhouse breakfasts (Monday 20 - Sunday 26 January 2020) and the FUW is also once again taking the farmhouse breakfast to Cardiff on Tuesday 21 January.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We all get really excited about our farmhouse breakfasts every year. We can start the day together with family, friends and neighbours, in a positive way and at the same time raise money for our charitable cause, the DPJ Foundation.

“All of us are looking forward to yet another good turnout in January. It’s fair to say that a healthy start is not just good for a healthy heart but also for a healthy mind.”

The FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week also provides an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year, and throughout breakfast week the FUW will shine a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.

“I hope many of you will be able to join us for breakfast. We want you to be a part of what we do, and share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other, and what better way to do that than around a table where we share great food and have a cup of tea,” added Glyn Roberts.

Details for breakfast events near you can be obtained from the local FUW office.

Farmers from Montgomeryshire are invited to join an election hustings, organised by the local Farmers’ Union of Wales branch, to quiz General Election hopefuls about #FarmingMatters.

The hustings, which will take place on Monday 9 December at Welshpool Livestock Market, starting at 12.30 pm, will give members the opportunity to hear from the candidates about their respective parties’ policies for agriculture. 

Confirmed speakers are Craig Williams  - Conservatives, Kait Duerden - Labour, Gwyn Wigley Evans  - Gwlad Gwlad and Kishan Devani - Liberal Democrats.

FUW Montgomeryshire County Chairman Bryn Francis said: “In a period of political uncertainty, where our future trading relationship with the European Union remains unclear, this is an important opportunity for every farmer to quiz their prospective member of parliament on how they view the way forward. 

“With much of the debate centred on national and international issues, this event is also an opportunity for our farming members to engage with the candidates about some of the more local issues that affect their livelihood and community. 

“I would encourage members of the farming community to take up this opportunity to pose questions to those that seek to represent them in the next parliament at Westminster.”

Farmers from Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire came together to quiz general election hopefuls in an agricultural husting event, which was held at Carmarthen Athletic Rugby Club, on Monday 2 December. 

The well-attended event, which was hosted in partnership with NFU Cymru and Carmarthenshire YFC, heard from Simon Hart (Conservative), Marc Tierney (Labour), Alistair Cameron, Welsh Liberal Democrats and Dr Rhys Thomas Plaid Cymru, as the candidates outlined their party policies before the floor was opened to questions from the audience. 

FUW Carmarthen chairman Philip Jones said: “I would like to thank the candidates who joined us on the night for their contributions and the thought-provoking conversations.  

“It was by no means a single subject discussion and our farming members engaged with the candidates about some of the more local issues that affect their livelihood and community.  

“I hope our members now have a clearer idea of what the parties are offering and feel that they can make an informed decision when they take to the polls in a few days time.” 

Nestled just outside of the small Pembrokeshire village of Puncheston, near Haverfordwest, is Fagwrfran East farm, home to the Williams family, and 150 dairy cows. 

Here Michael Williams farms with his parents Gareth and Annette, producing milk for cheese on a First Milk contract. When the family bought the farm in 1981, it was derelict and hadn't been farmed for a few years. It had been mainly a beef and sheep farm but as Gareth and Annette had both come from dairy farms, and dairy was their passion, it was converted to a dairy farm.  

Gareth and Annette started milking with a few cows in a second hand 8 abreast parlour. They progressively built the dairy herd up and whilst Michael studied for his A levels they installed a 10/20 swing over herringbone style parlour. 

Michael returned home to the farm in 2006 after completing a Master degree in Exploration Geology at Cardiff University and after a few years became a partner with his parents in the business. 

The farm continued to grow with investment in buildings, silage pits, slurry storage and lately the Robotic Dairy. Since January 2017 the herd has been milked by DeLaval VMS robots with a third robot installed in the summer of 2018.

Taking a group of young farmers for a tour of the farm, as part of the FUW Academi organised by the Union’s Pembrokeshire branch, Michael explains some of the benefits of doing things differently.

“Milk output has changed dramatically from the conventional system to the robotic system. It’s fair to say the cost of production is higher but the rewards in both animal health and milk quality are worth it. 

“We can produce consistent volumes of high constituent milk which suits our milk contract with First Milk who turn our milk into cheese. The robots allow us to have better control over feeding, and cows who have the potential to produce a lot of milk get the opportunity without the limitations of twice a day milking. 

“Our foot health has improved and our mastitis rates have dropped, and hence we have seen a dramatic reduction in treatments. However, with lower cell counts and a far more hygienic environment from milking to accommodation, we have to be even more vigilant against particular mastitis bugs,” said Michael.

Showing the group the new robots and demonstrating how they work, Michael adds: “There are so many different reports and settings, which provide us with all the information we could possibly need. For example, I can tell if a cow has mastitis 1 day before she actually shows clinical signs. I also know exactly how much milk a cow produces, how often she wants to walk through to be milked or if she is not walking through as often as she did before. There is no place for a poorly cow to hide, the system will pick it up straight away.” 

The cows learn how to use the system, which usually takes them about 15 attempts or 3 days and then they know what to do, he says. 

“Once they have learned how to go through the gate, they get milked automatically if they are ready for milking and if they try to go through too often, they get redirected to the exit. 

“This type of system works well for us. Essentially, we never finish milking, the system runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The cows do it themselves and are feeling better for it.”

But even though the milking happens automatically, Michael still has to make sure that everything runs smoothly. For that to happen he says, maintenance is key.

“Just because the cows get milked automatically, doesn’t mean there is no work for me. The system and robots need maintaining and looking after. Maintenance is key to make sure the robots work well. You wouldn’t get on a plane that hasn’t been serviced would you, so this is no different.

“We have also learned that sand bedding doesn’t work with robots because the grains get into all the little spaces and cause problems. So we use sawdust instead, which is renewable and doesn’t break the machines,” he explains. 

The milking cows are fed a TMR (total mixed ration) of grass silage, maize and some blend depending on analysis of the forages to balance the diet. They are also fed a concentrate in the robot depending on the stage of lactation and yield. 

Dry cows are fed a more mature late cut silage which is baled, this is then mixed with straw and the dry cows are housed separately to the main milking herd. Youngstock will all be reared on the farm with beef animals sold as store cattle.   

“The silage for the dairy cows is made using a multicut technique whereby the silage is cut around the 12th May and every 30-32days thereafter through the summer. Around 40acres of maize is grown on the farm and this acreage will probably increase going forward,” Michael explains. 

5 years ago the family looked at their slurry storage and utilization, deciding they needed to be able to time their applications better with the aim of reducing bought in nutrients. 

“Due to our high rainfall, we decided a slurry tower gave us the best solution. All of the yards are covered avoiding any clean rainwater entering the storage. The yards and robot unit all feed into a small reception pit (approx. 150,000 gallons). 

“During the summer this is emptied after each cut of silage and during the winter the reception pit contents are pumped to the tower (600,000 gallons) to store until more favourable weather conditions permit us to apply it to the fields in the spring,” Michael says. 

The system has allowed the family to greatly reduce the amount of bought-in fertilizer with no P&K fertilizer used at all and only targeted Nitrogen applications. Regular soil sampling also allows them to monitor the soil indices and adjust application rates. 

Aware of the proposed slurry regulations which may come into force in  2020, Michael has concerns: “Currently our storage and application rates would meet proposed changes to manure use but we are always looking to improve our situation and covers for the slurry tower and reception pit are being looked at. 

“Any changes to legislation that includes a dated closed period for spreading manures could be problematic, even for us with adequate storage. It is better to be able to apply whilst weather and crop/ground conditions are favorable rather than following a calendar date.”

The changes implemented over the years, from better slurry management to automated milking mean that the family have a more flexible schedule on the farm. 

“There is no tie at both ends of the day with milking and this is especially seen in the afternoon when jobs would be wound up early to go and fetch cows and milk. I find more time to help with our children before and after school and my father has more time to dedicate to rearing calves. 

“This has also seen improved health and reduced treatments within the calf shed. There are often days when we are busy with silage or simply having a family day off-farm and we know that the robotic unit continues to tick over and cows remain happy and content,” he said.