[caption id="attachment_3542" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Maelgwyn Davies - left - with John Savins.[/caption]

Ceredigion farmer Maelgwyn Davies was today elected the new chairman of the Farmers' Union of Wales arable, horticulture and cropping committee.

The committee held its inaugural meeting at the union's head office in Aberystwyth.

Mr Davies, 56, of Panteryrod, Llwyncelyn, near Aberaeron, helps run the family farm's commercial herd of sucklers, a small herd of pedigree Charolais cattle that they intend to increase, and Welsh ewes.

The farm also produces barley, wheat and maize for cattle feed and diversified in 1995 by setting up a go-cart track.

John Savins, 45, the union's Pembrokeshire county chairman, was elected the committee's vice chairman. He runs a herd of 200 suckler cows on his 530-acre farm at Boncath, Pembrokeshire, and also farms around 120-acres of barley.

"By establishing an arable, horticulture and cropping committee we are now able to voice our concerns to the Welsh Government and discuss future plans of action," said Mr Davies.

"Today we discussed crop diversification proposals under the new CAP reform, biotechnology and food security. I look forward to the work this committee can do for the union and its members in the future and hope that we will work closely with the Welsh and UK Governments on arable farming issues," he added.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies's commitment to review how the Welsh Government has implemented the Glastir agri-environment scheme and listen to suggestions on improving the process in the future.

"The success and popularity of schemes such as Tir Gofal, Tir Cymen and, latterly, Tir Cynnal illustrate how farmers are quite happy to enter well-designed agri-environment schemes which balance environmental management and enhancement with agricultural production," said chairman of the union's land use committee Gavin Williams.

"Therefore, we welcome the Minister's review, so that we can develop a scheme which will meet both farmers' and the Minister's aspirations for sustainable farming into the future.

"Having participated in the previous Rees Roberts review of the scheme, we hope that the terms of reference for this review will be far broader, to enable a more fundamental approach to addressing the perceived barriers to uptake for the benefit of all," Mr Williams added.

Farmers' Union of Wales president Emyr Jones today welcomed the Welsh Government's "Working Smarter" report which lists numerous recommendations to cut red tape for farmers.

The report by Institute of Directors Wales chairman Gareth Williams makes 74 recommendations and emphasises how they should be delivered.

Mr Jones said: "Gareth Williams is to be commended for undertaking this work over such a short period, listening to the industry's concerns and highlighting areas where major improvements need to be made which are in all our interests.

"Deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies's working smarter initiative is something that we all see eye to eye on and the report contains a host of real win-win proposals which would reduce costs and bureaucracy for both farmers and government bodies.

"The next step will be to ensure that the momentum built up by Mr Williams over the past nine months continues and that each of the recommendations is implemented at the earliest possible opportunity."

The recommendations are aimed at:

* Improving communication with the farming community; 

* Improving the Single Payment application process and customer experience; 

* Reducing the overall number of farm inspections while adequately addressing risk; 

* Safeguarding animal health and welfare while establishing flexibility of livestock movement; 

* Reducing and simplifying farm records, including those covering livestock identification and movements, and medicine purchase and usage; 

* Improving understanding of, and compliance with, environmental regulations; 

* Making it easier for farmers to diversify their farm businesses. 

The recommendations are grouped into 20 "quick wins" which Mr Williams has suggested should be delivered by the 2012 Summer Recess; 35 "short term solutions" to be delivered by the 2013 Summer Recess; and 19 "medium term solutions" to be delivered by the next Assembly Elections in 2015.

The report can be found at:

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/farming/workingsmarter/workingsmarterreport/?lang=en

[caption id="attachment_3535" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, MEPs John Bufton and Derek Vaughan, FUW president Emyr Jones, MEPs Kaye Swinburne and Jill Evans, and Dai Davies, chairman of breakfast sponsor Meat Promotion Wales - Hybu Cig Cymru.[/caption]

The Farmhouse Breakfast Week function held at the European Parliament by the Farmers' Union of Wales gave union officials and staff the opportunity to discuss issues of concern relating to the CAP reform and animal health with Welsh MEPs. 

Farmhouse Breakfast Week has seen over 1,500 breakfast functions and the FUW's Brussels event was the only one to be held overseas. 

"The farming industry and rural community needs the understanding and support of the UK and European Governments if we are going to retain our young people in the countryside, and we need this support here in Wales if we are going to maintain a vibrant farming community," said FUW president Emyr Jones. 

"Promoting our fantastic Welsh food here in Brussels is not only a great opportunity to showcase our top quality produce but it also provided us with a platform to reinforce the union's concerns regarding the CAP reform and various animal health issues. As an industry we need to produce more food in a sustainable manner for a growing population and Wales can do just that. 

"Welsh farmers have the experience and expertise to continue producing first class food and working the land. It is vital that their concerns are reflected in the CAP and we have reinforced that in talks with all four Welsh MEPs here in Brussels." added Mr Jones.

THREE major staff awards were made at the Farmers' Union of Wales annual business conference (ABC) in Aberystwyth which heard that the union's insurance arm is now the third biggest broker in Wales with gross premium income growing at an average of £160,000 per month during 2011.

The Highest Insurance Book Growth award went to Meirionnydd area officer Dei Charles Jones, of Llanuwchllyn, Bala, for a book that grew by 32 per cent.

The award for the county that gained most new members during 2011 went to Caernarfon with 46 new members. County executive officer Gwynedd Watkin and area officers Dylan Evans and Dafydd Jones received the award jointly on behalf of the county staff.

The Efficiency Award for the best managed insurance portfolio went to Carmarthenshire area officer Meinir Davies, of Llanddeusant, Llangadog.

[caption id="attachment_3530" align="aligncenter" width="300"] MOST NEW MEMBERS: From left, Emyr Jones, Gwynedd Watkin, Dafydd Jones, Dylan Evans and Glyn Roberts.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3531" align="aligncenter" width="300"] HIGHEST BOOK GROWTH: From left, FUW president Emyr Jones, Dei Charles Jones and deputy president Glyn Roberts.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3532" align="aligncenter" width="300"] EFFICIENCY AWARD: From left, Meinir Davies, Glyn Roberts and Emyr Jones.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3527" align="aligncenter" width="500"] From left, FUW president Emyr Jones, vice president Lorraine Howells, Cefin Evans, FUW vice president Richard Vaughan, deputy president Glyn Roberts, vice president Brian Walters, Gareth Jones and FUW finance and organisation committee member Eifion Huws.[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales insurance services arm is sponsoring two Ceredigion farmers on an "awesome" bike ride in the Himalayan Mountains next month to raise funds for Wales Air Ambulance. 

Cefin Evans, of Cwmwythig, Capel Bangor, and Gareth Jones, of Morfa Farm, Llanrhystud, have stepped up their training to take part in the "Yak Attack" - the highest mountain bike race on earth and one of the toughest mountain bike stage races on the world calendar. 

Taking place in the mighty Himalaya, comprising of 10 stages, covering 400km and with a total altitude gain of over 12,000m, the race throws every obstacle under the sun at the adventurous riders daring to take it on. 

There's the altitude with the course peaking at 5,416m, where oxygen levels are only 50 per cent of those at sea level. There's the weather - up to 30 degrees centigrade over the first four days and then rapidly decreasing to a frostbite inducing -15c (before wind chill) as the race crosses the Thorong La pass. 

Then, after all that, there's the terrain with potentially bike-wrecking rough descents, soft sand climbs, streams, suspension bridges, mud, landslides and invariably snow. 

"Previous competitors have said things like it is the most awesome riding they've ever done, it isn't racing, its torture," said Cefin when he and Gareth met the FUW's presidential team at Aberystwyth before leaving for the race start point at Katmandu. 

"Yak Attack is not just a race - it's a life experience," said Gareth. "It's like a roller coaster, literally and emotionally, and will leave us battered and bruised but with unforgettable memories of a beautiful country inhabited by beautiful people." 

Both cyclists have agreed to use the race to raise money for Wales Air Ambulance. They plan to hold a fund-raising event at the Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth, on February 10 and will fly to Katmandu from Heathrow Airport on February 29. 

Wishing the cyclists a safe journey, FUW president Emyr Jones said: "The union is pleased to help them achieve such a memorable life experience and, at the same time, raise money for a worthy charity which my predecessor as FUW president, Gareth Vaughan, successfully adopted as his chosen charity in his final year in office."