[caption id="attachment_7932" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Montgomeryshire CEO Emyr Wyn Davies[/caption]

Farmers from Montgomeryshire are set to question General Election hopefuls about #FarmingMatters on Monday 5 June at Welshpool Livestock market.
The event is open to all and will start at 12.30 pm.

FUW Montgomeryshire CEO Emyr Wyn Davies 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 ahead of this critical General Election. 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 Newtown office on: 01686  626889

[caption id="attachment_7926" align="alignleft" width="300"] Former FUW President Bob Parry with Rhodri Morgan[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has today reacted with sadness to the news that former First Minister Rhodri Morgan has passed away at the age of 77.

Mr Morgan has been a great friend and supporter of the FUW during his time in office and the Union extends their warmest condolences to the family.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who has always been a friend to this Union.

“He understood the challenges farmers here in Wales face and we worked closely with him, most notably during the Foot and Mouth crisis.

“I can only describe him as an ambassador for Wales, a visionary for devolution and someone who had our rural Welsh communities and family farms close to his heart and cared deeply for them. He will be missed by many.”

[caption id="attachment_7920" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Anglesey CEO Heidi Williams[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales Anglesey branch and NFU Cymru are joining forces at an upcoming hustings to question their local General Election candidates about #FarmingMatters.
The meeting, which is open to all will be held on Wednesday 31 May, starting at 7.30pm, in the YFC Centre on the Anglesey Showground.

FUW Anglesey CEO Heidi Williams 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.”

To date, four of the five candidates have confirmed their attendance at this event being James Turner UKIP,  Tomos Dafydd Davies Conservative, Albert Owen Labour and Ieuan Wyn Jones Plaid Cymru.

Refreshments will be available on the night and attendees are requested to inform the relevant Union Offices of their interest in attending.

For further information contact the FUW Llangefni office on: 01248 750250.

[caption id="attachment_7917" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mark Williams is stepping down as Montgomeryshire County Chairman at the end of the month[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales Montgomeryshire County Chairman Mark Williams is hosting a final farm visit and hog roast before officially stepping down from his role at the end of the month.

The farm walk, which will provide an opportunity to see the new poultry unit, is held at Pen Y Derw, Forden on Thursday 25 May and will start at 12pm.

FUW Montgomeryshire CEO Emyr Wyn Davies said: “This farm visit is the last one Mark is hosting in his official chairman role and we hope many you can join us on the day. It’s an excellent opportunity to see the new poultry unit and the farm. We will also have a raffle on the day, with proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation and county funds.”

The event is kindly supported by Lloyds Animal Feeds, Powell & Co Shed Builders and Newquip.

The Anglesey branch of the FUW recently held an information evening for farmers at Anglesey showground to shed light on a variety of #FarmingMatters, which was attended by almost 100 people.

Helping to explain what farmers have to do in order to be successful in their Farm Business Grant application was Trystan Sion, Development Officer Farming Connect and information on animal movements, holding mergers and animal transportation licences, was provided by Janet Phillips, Welsh Assembly Government Farm Liaison Officer.

The meeting was also be joined by Haydn V Jones, Specialist agricultural finance broker who spoke about overdrafts, loans, mortgages, and livestock finance, and Robin Griffiths, Catchment Partnership Co-Ordinator North Wales Welsh Water, spoke about the free pesticide and herbicide disposal scheme in the Alaw and Cefni catchments.

Heidi Williams, FUW Anglesey CEO, said: “Some farmers were still a bit unclear about what they have to do qualify for the Farm Business Grant and that’s why we hosted this information evening. We also discussed the latest developments and policy regarding animal movements and I would like to thank also those who joined us for the meeting and everyone who contributed.”

[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.”