Protests by hundreds of farmers at Asda depots across the UK highlight the need for retailers to behave responsibly or face the threat of further action, says the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The protests, which were coordinated by Farmers For Action in response to milk discounting by the major retailer, took place at depots in Grangemouth, Skelmersdale, and Chepstow, and prompted Asda to take out a Court Injunction against FFA.

“We are assured that FFA has complied with the law and with the terms of the injunction, and producers have every right to protest peacefully against this type of behaviour by the retailers,” said FUW dairy committee chairman Eifion Huws.

But while the protests relate primarily to the issue of milk discounting - which inevitably leads to downward pressure on farmgate milk prices - they highlight a broader need for the retailers to behave responsibly towards their suppliers, and the possibly consequences of not doing so, says Mr Huws.

“The major retailers exert massive downwards pressure on the farmgate prices received by all primary producers, making farming and food production less viable, and reducing the incomes of farming families.

“In the absence of government moves to ensure equality throughout the supply chain, those whose incomes are threatened by the retailers will feel they have no alternative but to protest, as has happened in this case.

“Over the past few weeks we have also heard of retailers severely penalising some vegetable producers due to problems caused by the bad weather. Given the grief and losses that such weather already causes for farm businesses, in my mind that amounts to kicking a man when he is down.
“While other businesses reel from the impact of recession and cutbacks, the profits of the major retailers seem to know no bounds, highlighting the overwhelming imbalance of power within the supply chain."

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed the rural affairs minister Elin Jones' announcement that she will make a full Tir Mynydd payment in 2012.

The minister first revealed her plans at a meeting yesterday with union officials.

Chairman of the FUW's land use and parliamentary committee Richard Vaughan said: “The meeting was held to discuss the next steps forward for Glastir and today’s announcement follows months of lobbying by the union and will give those farmers who have not applied for Glastir this year a bit of added financial security.

“It was a very productive meeting and we hope that the work of the independent panel, coupled with today’s announcement, will prove to be a major step forward.”

At the meeting, the Minister announced that she had decided that all eligible Tir Mynydd farmers will receive 100% of the payment rate per eligible hectare in 2012. This will include Tir Mynydd farmers who will enter Glastir in 2012.

The union will continue to lobby for further transitional arrangements for 2013.

There will be no further Tir Mynydd payments after this.

The change will result in an increased payment to Tir Mynydd farmers and the industry of approximately £2.5m.

[caption id="attachment_5025" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, RABI Wales welfare officer Erys Hughes, RABI county chairman Mansel Charles, RABI county president Elfryn Daniels, FUW county chairman Ian Rickman and FUW county executive officer Meinir Bartlett.[/caption]

A sum of £2,660 was raised at an auction of sporting memorabilia and agricultural products plus a raffle during a fund-raising dinner at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, organised by the FUW's Carmarthenshire branch to celebrate the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution's (RABI) 150th anniversary.

Guest speakers at the dinner were First Minister Carwyn Jones and Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones. Proceeds of the auction and raffle run by the MC for the evening, former Welsh rugby international player Rupert Moon, were presented to RABI's Carmarthenshire branch.

There is insufficient consideration of how the Welsh Assembly Government's new 10-year food strategy aims to engage farmers and other primary producers to consider moving into added value enterprises, says the Farmers' Union of Wales.

Responding to today's publication of "Food for Wales, Food from Wales 2010-2020" FUW deputy director of policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips said the union recognised the important role the Assembly's Food Centres play in helping micro-businesses develop and innovate.

"But we are concerned that more emphasis should be given to encouraging primary producers to consider added value as a means of shortening the supply chain, increasing profitability and improving the sustainability of their businesses into the future.

"There is also a need to make sure the relevant training capacity and mentoring is available for small scale producers and that targeted sales and marketing advice is made available to help these micro businesses.

"Processing facilities can be a major barrier to the adoption of added value opportunities by primary producers, and the lack of smaller abattoirs, or difficulties in accessing larger slaughtering facilities for one or two animals, is a genuine problem in many areas of Wales and does reduce the opportunities for developing this sector.

"The union believes that the strategy needs to reflect the importance of encouraging primary producers into the wider supply chain and the need for recognition to be given to the investment required to adopt new capacity.

"Whilst acknowledging the need for the strategy to adopt sustainability in its wider sense, it is important to ensure that this is translated into clear, uncomplicated messages, which do not result in increased red tape and unwieldy policy instruments.

"The FUW represents primary producers who are generally small businesses and already subject to a great deal of regulation, bureaucracy and red tape."

Ms Nowell-Phillips accepted that many of the aspirations within the strategy were fully in line with the union's aims of a profitable, sustainable agricultural sector within a thriving rural economy.

"Retaining primary producers and a critical mass of quality farm products is paramount to delivering the aspirations of this strategy. Sustainability, efficiency, and market development are also important for the success of the strategy, as is encouraging entrepreneurship amongst primary producers to add value.

"From the union's perspective, delivering the vision for food in Wales is reliant on a profitable primary production sector. The FUW believes that it is vital to ensure that farming is fairly represented in the strategy and that value should be added as close to the source of production as possible."

The lack of adequate broadband in several rural areas of Wales could be one of the reasons why farmers hate Christmas shopping, the Farmers' Union of Wales stressed today (Thursday, December 9).

Responding to a new survey which found a fifth of farmers detest Christmas shopping, FUW president Gareth Vaughan revealed he cannot access broadband services at his farm near Newtown.

"Most of the farmers I know do not have access to online shopping because they do not have access to broadband. So I'd be very surprised if this statistic represents a large cross-section of farmers."

The survey by online shopping website www.vikingdirect.co.uk discovered that when it comes to Christmas shopping farmers hate the experience far more than any other profession. They go for the easy option and buy vouchers or give cash instead.

The website gathered the views of people in the UK and Ireland to find out what type of shopper we are - either Dodgers (who dodge buying presents and go for vouchers), Pinchers (penny-pinchers), Planners (never go shopping without a list) or Surprise Shoppers (who go that extra mile with gifts).

One farmer who took the test came out as a Dodger. "I have to admit the personality test rings true with me as I came out as a Dodger and I do hate shopping," said Jason Chipping.

"I can just about bring myself to shop online, but I can't stand trawling round the shops - there are so many better things to do!"

Mr Vaughan added: "If some farmers are a bit down about Christmas, it's probably because they associate it with a lot of hard work and bad weather. A farmer cannot take the day off work because of snow and ice as animals still need feeding, milking etc.

"For example, over the last week many farmers have been up all night in temperatures of minus 10 or lower trying to thaw out water-pipes or carrying water for their cattle to drink. Perhaps some just associate Christmas with this type of very hard work."

The survey by Viking Direct shows the armed forces and those in banking and finance are close behind farmers while scientists and travel agents are the least likely to dodge a trip round the shops in search of festive gifts!

The study also showed teachers are the biggest penny-pinchers, that teenagers hate the whole experience and that people in sales and marketing are the most thoughtful and generous!

Many years of lobbying by the Farmers' Union of Wales for meat to be properly labelled with its country of origin has taken a major step forward, the union claimed today.

"We welcome the new proposals by EU ministers to introduce a draft regulation to extend the compulsory beef labelling system operating since 2002 to include lamb, pork and chicken," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan.

The ministers have also called on the EC to report on the possible extension of compulsory country of origin labelling to further products such as milk, milk used as an ingredient, meat used as an ingredient, unprocessed foods, single ingredient products, and ingredients that represent more than 50% of a food.

The FUW stepped up its country of origin labelling campaign in 2004 after members discovered Argentinian rump steak - displaying the British flag and British farm standards logo - on sale at a Bangor supermarket and Brazilian beef being sold in a newly-opened supermarket at Bala.

FUW deputy president Emyr Jones, who rears Welsh Black cattle near Bala, led a delegation of farmers to meet the area manager at the new store to explain how angry they felt.

And last August the FUW described the news that Welsh lamb was being routinely mis-sold on the menus of North Wales eateries as a significant step backwards in the promotion of quality Welsh produce.

Of the 244 restaurants, pubs, takeaways and hotels, targeted by a Trading Standards Probe, a staggering 50 per cent were unable to identify the origin of products which were being described and sold as "Welsh lamb".

Mr Vaughan said: "Welsh livestock farmers have good reasons to want accurate and unambiguous labelling of Welsh beef and lamb but in the past few years we have identified a number of examples of mislabelling of imported meat which could have tarnished the quality image of food produced in Wales.

"Welsh farmers are proud of their produce and the high welfare, sustainability and environmental ethics they adopt. The FUW has worked hard to promote home-grown produce and our long-standing and successful 'Buy the Welsh One' campaign reflects our commitment to the Welsh farming industry."