[caption id="attachment_7882" align="alignleft" width="200"] “We are excited to once again join the NSA Welsh "Sheep event and look forward to welcoming our members to the stand." FUW Marketing & Membership Manager Teleri Fielden[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is putting the spotlight on #FarmingMatters at this years NSA Welsh Sheep, which is held on Tuesday, May 16, at Llwyn Bedw, Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon.

Through its #FarmingMatters campaign the Union aims to demonstrate why agriculture and rural communities must be a priority in terms of negotiating our departure from the EU and beyond, and members will be able to pick up their copy of the FUW’s General Election 2017 Manifesto.

FUW Marketing and Membership Manager Teleri Fielden said: “We are excited to once again join the NSA Welsh Sheep event and look forward to welcoming our members to the stand.

“Our staff are on hand to provide advice on #FarmingMatters and there is even a chance to enter our Spring Sheep hamper competition worth £150. We have partnered with CCF to provide a variety of useful equipment such as drenching guns, marker sprays and foot rot shears, to give you a head start this spring.

[caption id="attachment_7883" align="alignright" width="237"] Stop by the FUW stand to find out how you can win this Spring Sheep hamper[/caption]

“Also not be missed is the seminar on ‘Future models for public money towards farming’, which is being chaired by our Head of Policy Dr Nick Fenwick. The event is being held in the seminar area between 12.30pm and 1.20pm, to which all are welcome.”

In addition, the FUW has renewed its pledge to support the Farmers Guardian ‘Take the Lead’ campaign and will be handing out new gatepost signs to members.

“Increased numbers of livestock worrying incidents remain a major concern for the industry and we are pleased to pledge our continued support to the campaign. The public needs to be aware of how dangerous their pets can be to livestock if they are being chased or, even worse, attacked by dogs on the loose. We will continue to do our utmost to highlight the need for responsible dog ownership amongst the farming and non-farming community,” added Teleri.

Anchovy Roast Leg of Welsh Lamb

Wales is famous around the world for its green green grass, and it is this, of course, which makes our tender roast lamb so very delicious. We like ours cooked with our umami sea salt best, with anchovies and plenty of garlic.

SERVES 6-8

2 carrots
1 leek
1 red onion
4 cloves garlic, crushed
6 anchovies
Few sprigs of rosemary
2 teaspoons sea salt (umami works especially well here, but use plain or your choice of our flavours)
Cracked black pepper to taste
Good olive oil
2kg leg of lamb on the bone

[caption id="attachment_7867" align="alignleft" width="169"] FUW President Glyn Roberts launches the Union's General Election Manifesto at St Fagans farm.[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has officially launched its 2017 General Election manifesto, outlining what it considers the priorities for the next UK Government should be in terms of agriculture.

Speaking at the event, which was held at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “This is an unusual election - perhaps a single issue election - and unlike any that we will have faced before. Brexit will dominate and we need to ensure that whoever forms the next Government understands the significant challenges and opportunities that Welsh family farms face. And that they also recognise that Wales - and Welsh farming - is not England and English farming.

“Today we are meeting in a museum, one that preserves and shows off the best and most intriguing elements of our social and cultural heritage. I think that this museum and the FUW have so much in common. We both know where we have come from, we both know that we represent the people and communities of Wales and we both know that we have a great story to tell.

“But St Fagans is of course a museum celebrating and recording the past, whereas our farming families represent not only a living history, but the future. And we certainly do not want to see Wales become a Museum. We must ensure that we continue to grow and deliver successful, profitable businesses in strong, happy, multilingual communities. Farm businesses that offer hope for our younger generation and help to keep our rural communities alive. For us the past is a foundation for building our future.”

The FUW firmly believes that the next UK Government must take the opportunity to shape domestic policies fit for a UK outside the EU and that those policies must respect the current balances of power between devolved nations, while also taking into account the concerns regarding disproportionate EU rules, regulations and bureaucracy which led to so many voting to leave the EU. “Since 1978 the FUW has been formally recognised by Governments as exclusively representing the views of farmers in Wales. We have no external influences from outside Wales, are the independent voice of Wales’ family farms. Therefore, the FUW is committed to lobbying all those in Westminster to ensure that Welsh agriculture and Wales’ family farms receive the attention and respect that they warrant, for the period of the next Parliament and beyond – for the sake of all our futures,” added Mr Roberts.

Manifesto 2017 FINAL

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the announcement that plans, which would have forced millions of businesses and self-employed people to file multiple tax returns each year, have been shelved by the Government.

The policy, known as "Making Tax Digital" has been dropped from the  Finance Bill, which will be the last to be debated in the House of Commons before Parliament adjourns for the General Election.

The decision means that the scheme, which would have affected large businesses from 2018 and small businesses from 2019, will be delayed by at least a year. It also raises the possibility that it could be scrapped altogether.

Worst-hit by the change would be the self-employed with turnovers of more than £85,000, who from April 2018 would have had to file at least five returns per tax year in addition to regular VAT returns.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We very much welcome that this scheme has been dropped from the Finance Bill and urge the Government to not just delay its implementation but to scrap it completely.

“Across the country millions of individuals and businesses are benefiting from the convenience and simplicity of digital services and whilst this move would have brought benefits to some, there is a real concern that those in rural Wales, who have no access to internet, would be at a severe disadvantage.

“Whilst this proposal to bring business tax into the digital age is admirable, many people who live in rural areas are still waiting for the digital age to come to them. The FUW has stressed on many occasions that those without a connection cannot diversify their businesses, that they cannot support children with homework as many need to do and that they cannot connect readily with Government programmes for advice and support payments as they are mandated to do.

“Government talks about ‘future proofing’ our economy in light of Brexit and investment in broadband should therefore be a top priority for the Welsh administration, given the wider economic benefits it will bring to our rural communities.”

The FUW will continue to highlight the need for improved broadband availability and is urging the UK Government to ensure that the system is properly tested by farm businesses across the country before it is put into action.

[caption id="attachment_7858" align="alignleft" width="300"] Join us to talk about the dairy industry![/caption]

Dairy farmers on Anglesey are set to discuss the latest developments in the dairy industry, when they meet on Thursday, 27 April, at The Bull Hotel, Llangefni.

The meeting, which is open to everyone with an interest in dairy farming,  has been arranged by the Farmers’ Union of Wales Anglesey branch and will start at 7.30pm.

Heidi Williams, the FUW’s Anglesey CEO, said: “We have arranged this meeting for everyone who has an interest in dairy farming to join us for the evening, so we can discuss a way forward for the industry.

“The dairy industry is facing some challenges that need to be overcome, including low farm gate prices, bovine TB, CPH rules and regulations and we want to hear your thoughts, concerns and ideas about the current state of the dairy industry.

“Our dairy farmers have suffered quite a bit with low prices over recent years, many producers have seen their milk cheque cut in half and often find themselves having to deal with unfair contracts. The unfortunate truth is that they will have to cope with extreme price volatility in the future and that’s why we want to discuss a way forward with farmers.”

To book your place contact the FUW Anglesey office on 01248 750250.

[caption id="attachment_7851" align="alignleft" width="208"] If you are affected by cross-border issues - then we want you to be part of the discussions![/caption]

We are hosting a discussion group on cross-border farming issues to highlight the problems farmers are facing and to find solutions to the problems on Thursday 4th May, 7pm at Welshpool mart.

If you are affected we would love you to be a part of that discussion group. So gives us a call to book you place at the discussion group - 01686 626889.

The feedback gathered will be fed into discussions at an upcoming cross party group meeting on cross-border issues at the Senedd.

• The Wales-England border is three times the length of the Scotland-England border and there are around 500 Wales-England cross border farms.
• Such farms have to deal with additional complexity in terms of different sets of rules either side of the border. E.g. different animal movement rules, different reporting systems, different environmental rules etc.

We know that payments to such farmers are regularly delayed by months – usually due to poor Rural Payment Agency (England) performance and consistently place them at a significant disadvantage compared with those who are paid within an acceptable timescales by Rural Payments Wales.

Many of those farmer affected may have to borrow money, pay additional interest on loans, and be unable to make the most of market prices buy stock or produce at a time when prices are lower.

All welcome. Light refreshments provided.