[caption id="attachment_7902" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) Simon Thomas AM, Huw Davies, FUW Head of Policy Dr Nick Fenwick and Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru General Election Candidate for Ceredigion)[/caption]

Farmers in Ceredigion recently came together to discuss #FarmingMatters with regional Assembly Member Simon Thomas, who also sits on the National Assembly for Wales Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, and outlined some of the issues they are facing with agri-environment schemes and diversification.

Hosting the visit was beef and sheep farmer Huw Davies, of Llety Ifan Hen, Bontgoch, Ceredigion, who together with his father Emyr runs the 900 acre holding. The farm carries 1500 ewes, 400 replacement and ewe lambs, 40 suckler cows and followers, as well as 20 store cattle.

Being born on the farm in 1965, Huw has been farming here full time since 1990, after traveling around New Zealand and studying agriculture at Llysfasi College.

The family have further diversified into a 500 kw wind turbine and are also in the Glastir Advanced and Glastir Organic Schemes.

Outlining the major issues he faces with Glastir, Huw Davies said: “We have carried out all of the work we were required to do under our Glastir advanced contract, such as building a 180 metre stone wall, planting 250 meters of hedges and fencing off woodland. Despite all of the work carried out we have still not been reimbursed for income foregone, which by now adds up to £25,000.

[caption id="attachment_7903" align="alignright" width="300"] FUW Head of Policy Dr Nick Fenwick updates members on Glastir[/caption]

“Last year we were reimbursed by April for our environmental work, which wasn’t too bad but considering that our BPS was late this year as well, things are tight financially. That means we can’t invest in the business or pay our contractors. It is very frustrating and almost impossible to plan ahead or even fill out your tax forms, when you might end up getting two payments in the same financial year or none at all.”

FUW Head of Policy, Dr Nick Fenwick said: “Like all agri-environment schemes, Glastir payments compensate farmers for work they have done and costs they have incurred, so it is only fair that payments should be made within a reasonable time period.”

Dr Fenwick said the industry had been incensed in March when the Welsh Government told the press there was no such thing as a late Glastir payment, implying they could sit on payments for as long as they wanted.

[caption id="attachment_7904" align="alignleft" width="300"] Members see the inside of the 500 kw turbine[/caption]

“The Welsh Government regularly writes to farmers giving them thirty days to repay sums which have been incorrectly paid. If the Welsh Ministers believe this is a reasonable time period then it should follow the same principle itself, especially where costs have been incurred. Based on such a period, many hundreds of Glastir payments owed by the Government are now more than three months late.”

With farmgate prices down and the future of agricultural payments uncertain, Huw decided to diversify into renewable energy and in June last year built a 500 kw wind turbine. The process and the rewards it offers are however not as straightforward as some might think.

Huw explains: “The planning process for getting this project of the ground was incredibly complicated and without our consultant we would not have

[caption id="attachment_7905" align="alignright" width="169"] The 500 kw wind turbine at Llety Ifan Hen[/caption]

stood a chance in making this happen. Welsh Government have to make the process easier, so that more farmers can diversify to safeguard their businesses but also to increase the amount of renewable energy produced here in Wales. It has to be easy and attractive for people if they are to engage with such diversifications. To help with that it would also be sensible to bring the tariff back. We are lucky that we have the turbine now as it offers a bit of financial security, especially given the uncertain future farming faces with our exit from the European Union imminent and no plans in place for future agricultural support.”

[caption id="attachment_7898" align="alignleft" width="300"] Helen with her six-year-old son Steffan[/caption]

We recently caught up with a familiar face for the Young Farmer Focus Column. Here FUW Ceredigion member Helen Howells, 32, tells us what she's been up to.

Helen farms with her husband, Peter, on a 220 acre family-run beef and sheep unit near Lampeter, Ceredigion. They specialise in breeding pedigree livestock under the Gwenog and Pedr prefixes, presenting Charolais bulls and Texel tups at sales across the UK. They also run a commercial suckler herd, flock of mules, and rear beef-cross dairy calves to sell on as store cattle. Helen runs her own consultancy from the farm, Hwylus, providing values-based consultancy for the rural sector. You can follow her on Facebook – @GwenogPedrLivestock

Sheep Life

We finished lambing over a fortnight ago so our attention has turned to managing the soil and grassland. The contractors took out a dressing of slurry recently and we’ve been moving the young stock around different pastures, getting ready to turn the cattle out. I had the fun job of vaccinating the lambs against Orf on Sunday, a messy job but it was great to have a thorough looksy at this year’s crop of Texels.

We’re really pleased with the new stock ram we bought last Autumn. He’s thrown some decent lambs for us. It’s been great to see our customers sharing pictures of their lambs on Facebook. We sold our first draft of Texel tups at the NSA Main Ram Sale in Builth last Autumn, reaching a top price of 880gns. We measure our success on the impact our stock has on our customers’ businesses.  This next year is about increasing our profile, capitalising on 40 years’ experience of terminal sire breeding and making sure customers know that they can come to us for sound Texel tups, focusing on confirmation, correctness and character. Repeat custom and referrals are key for us and we’re proud to stand behind our Charolais bulls and Texel rams.

Political Uncertainty

Theresa May has announced a General Election for June, another massive uncertainty for the industry, along with Brexit. As livestock farmers in West Wales, our profitability is closely related to the value of the export market and further volatility on this front makes forward planning difficult. Our focus for the next 5-10 years is growth and maximizing returns through efficiency but political uncertainty and trade makes it harder to make sound investment choices. They say fortune favours the bold and investing in land seems a safe bet but talks of falling agricultural land prices, amid no sign of a trade deal for red meat puts young farmers in a vulnerable position. Taking a global political outlook, food security may become high on the public agenda, with America and North Korea’s posturing a stark reminder of why #FarmingMatters.

“It’s OK to Say”

“The stiff upper lip” is synonymous with the rural farming community. Most of us just get on with things, often hiding problems from ourselves and talking about our “feelings” is alien and uncomfortable. We’ve faced some pretty low-points as a community in the last few years –TB, price volatility and NVZ proposals - this all puts a strain on our resolve.

The Royal Family’s ‘Heads Together’ campaign, the main charity for the London marathon this year, gives hope to many of us who feel uncomfortable talking about this kind of thing. Farming is often a solitary profession, which reinforces the importance of marts, vets’ surgeries, agricultural merchants and local shows as key social hubs for farmers.

These are ‘spaces’ where issues of concern are aired and shared and where we can begin to normalise mental health conversations. Perhaps the recent rise in Business rates should have been pre-empted by a Health Impact Assessment on rural communities, where farmers are continually highlighted as vulnerable health groups.

It’s about time to break the stigma attached to mental health and if you’re feeling vulnerable, please open-up and speak to someone. #Itsoktosay

The Farmer's Union of Wales has organised General Election hustings across Wales to provide farmers with the chance to quiz their local candidates. A warm welcome is extended to all.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “It is essential for farmers and landowners to have the opportunity to question and query party candidates as well as hearing their views on the future of rural Wales.  I urge our members and everyone who has an interest in the countryside to attend these events, so that they can make a fully informed decision on 8 June.”

Confirmed dates & locations:

Anglesey: Wednesday 31 May, 7.30pm at the YFC Centre on the Anglesey Showground

Brecon & Radnor: Friday 26 May, 7.30pm at the FUW Pavilion, RWAS showground

Caernarfon: Monday 22 May, 7.30pm at Llys Amaeth, 2 Castle Street, Caernarfon

Ceredigion: Tuesday 23 May, 8pm at the Llanina Arms Hotel, Llanarth

Carmarthen: Monday 5 June, 8pm at the White Hart Inn, Llandeilo

Flintshire: Wednesday 31 May, 7.30pm at The Plas Hafod Hotel, Gwernymynydd , Mold

Meirionnydd: Tuesday 30 May, 7.30pm at the Rugby Club, Dolgellau

Pembrokeshire: Tuesday 30 May, 7.30pm at the Mariners Hotel, Haverfordwest

For further information please contact your local FUW office.

[caption id="attachment_7891" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Meirionnydd CEO Huw Jones[/caption]

Farmers in Meirionnydd will have a chance to question their General Election candidates on Tuesday 30 May about agriculture and #FarmingMatters.

The meeting, which is arranged by both Farming Unions in Meirionnydd, is open to all and will start at 7.30pm at the Rugby Club, Dolgellau.

FUW Meirionnydd CEO Huw Jones said: “It is essential for farmers and landowners to have the opportunity to question and query party candidates as well as hearing their views on the future of rural Wales.

“I urge our members and everyone who has an interest in the countryside to attend this event, so that they can make a fully informed decision on 8 June.”

For further information contact the FUW Meirionnydd office on 01341 422298.

[caption id="attachment_7807" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright[/caption]

The Welsh Government’s flagship bovine TB data document - TB Dashboard - has revealed disappointing progress towards the eradication of  bovine TB in Wales.

According to the data presented, the levels of bovine TB in Wales have remained fairly static overall, with variable results across the counties.

Indeed, whilst the TB Dashboard document reports a general fall in TB herd incidence since 2012, the number of cattle slaughtered in the 12 months leading to January 2017 was 22 percent higher than in the previous 12 months.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer, said: “Although the data from TB Dashboard shows improvement in some areas, the number of cattle slaughtered remains on the rise.  According to Welsh bovine TB statistics, with the exception of 2008 and 2009, the number of cattle slaughtered in the 12 months to January 2017 was higher than in any other year since 1996.

“Recurrence rates have remained relatively flat in recent years, however almost 30 percent of the TB incidents closed in 2014 entailed a recurrence  in the subsequent two years.

“Losing TB-free status is devastating to farming families and their businesses.  The restrictions on a farm business can be incredibly destructive and it is extremely distressing for our members to have worked hard to gain TB-free status, only to lose it again in the subsequent years.

“A TB breakdown is not only financially crippling for the farm, but also impacts more widely as struggling farm businesses are less able to contribute to the both the local economy and further afield.”

According to Dashboard, over 80 percent of new TB incidents are in the areas classified as ‘High TB areas’, including Pembrokeshire in the West.  In the last quarter of 2016, there were 71 new incidents in this region.  Whilst this is a minor improvement from the year before, the longer term results are variable and suggest that cattle measures alone cannot work to eradicate TB.

The latest official report on the IAA, published after the cessation of the £3.7 million badger vaccination programme in North Pembrokeshire, concluded that ‘consistent trends in indicators of bovine TB incidence have not yet been seen’ over the 5 year period examined.

“The industry is well aware that the results after four years of badger vaccination in the IAA showed levels of bovine TB which are no different to other comparable areas where badger vaccination did not take place.

The number of cattle herds registered in Wales has declined by 43 percent since 1996 and the industry has lost dairy producers at an alarming rate.  Bovine TB is one of the most serious issues facing Welsh cattle farmers and a more holistic approach, which seriously tackles the wildlife reservoir, is required urgently,” added Dr Wright.

[caption id="attachment_7882" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Marketing and Membership Manager Teleri Fielden[/caption]

A busy weekend of promoting why #FarmingMatters and highlighting the dangers dogs pose to livestock is awaiting the Farmers’ Union of Wales at this year’s Royal Welsh Spring Festival (20-21 May).

The FUW stand in the Glamorgan Hall will be a hive of activity and members are invited to join Union staff for discussions on farming matters, enter the FUW’s Summer Sheep Hamper competition, worth £150, and pick up their FUW-Farmers Guardian ‘Take the Lead’ gatepost sign.

Speaking ahead of the event, FUW Marketing and Membership Manager Teleri Fielden said: “We look forward to welcoming our members to the FUW stand, where we will be highlighting why #FarmingMatters and where we will also put the spotlight on the escalating issue of livestock worrying and how much of a problem this is for our members and farmers across the country.”

The FUW has long stressed that in order to protect farm businesses from severe financial and emotional stress, it is imperative that improved public awareness is coupled with central recording of incidences, tighter regulation and better enforcement.

“We are therefore handing out new gatepost signs so that our members can respectfully remind those walking their dogs in the countryside to keep them on a lead whilst they enjoy the beautiful scenery. We are looking forward to seeing many of you over the weekend and hope you can join us for a cup of tea and chats about farming matters,” added Teleri.

Members of the Union are also invited to pick up their copy of the FUW’s General Election Manifesto highlights, which outlines the Union’s key asks of the next UK Government.