[caption id="attachment_7685" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW Policy Officer Charlotte Priddy[/caption]

The announcement made by Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, that a new round of funding for Glastir Advanced, worth over £18 million, has been opened, was welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The new round of funding is expected to deliver up to 340 Glastir Advanced contracts in 2018 (estimated at £54k per contract) and the Expression of Interest (EoI) window for will open on 28 February 2017 and will close at midnight on 31 March.

Welcoming the announcement, FUW Policy Officer Charlotte Priddy said: “This is great news for our farmers. I encourage them to apply for this next round of funding, for which they will need to submit an EOI via an RPW Online account before the end of March.”

Glastir Advanced is the flagship component of Glastir, through which the Welsh Government offers financial support to farmers and land owners to improve the environmental management of their land.

Mrs Priddy however also highlighted that farmers need to understand what they are signing up to.

“It is important that farmers fully understand the obligations within their Glastir contracts as even a minor breach can result in a hefty / significant penalty. It’s advisable to regularly review the contract to ensure that all the requirements are met,” she added.

If you use snares to control foxes, your snares must comply with the requirements of the Welsh Government code of best practice. Fox snaring has a proven track record of preventing localised species’ extinctions and securing wildlife diversity in Wales, including conserving endangered birds like black grouse, curlew and lapwing, as well as safeguarding young stock.

[caption id="attachment_7679" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Land Use Policy Officer Bernard Griffiths[/caption]

FUW Land Use Policy Officer Bernard Griffiths said: “If you follow the advice in this code you should be operating within the law, however the code is not a training manual, therefore training from approved trainers is highly recommended.”

There are training courses available, which take place in:

• Lleyn Peninsula, Gwynedd – Tuesday 14 February.
• Ceredigion – Wednesday 15 February
• Denbighshire on Tuesday 7 March
• Builth Wells area, Powys on Wednesday 8 March
• Vale of Glamorgan on Thursday 9 March.

Here are some things you must do if you snare foxes in Wales:

• Obtain a copy of the Welsh Government Code of best practice on the use of snares in fox control

• Read the code fully and understand it.

• Abide by it. Put the code’s advice into practice and snare only in accordance with the measures the code advocates.

• Check your snares. Use only modern, code-compliant equipment. Remember – every fox snare set in Wales must comply with the code’s requirements.

• It is your responsibility to ensure that your kit conforms to best practice.

Some legal points to be aware of:

1. Snares must be inspected at least once a day while set.

2. It is illegal to use a ‘self-locking’ snare.

3. It is an offence for a person to cause unnecessary suffering to an animalunder their control (this applies to animals whilst held in snares and themeans by which they are dispatched.

4. It is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a domestic animal.

5. It is illegal to set in position any trap or snare calculated to cause bodilyinjury to any deer coming into contact with it.

6. It is illegal to set in position any trap or snare calculated to cause bodilyinjury to any wild animal included in schedule 6 of the Wildlife andCountryside Act 1981 (currently including badger, polecat, otter, redsquirrel, hedgehog and pine marten).

7. If a species given protection under Schedule 6 to the 1981 Act is caughtunintentionally and has to be killed on grounds of humaneness because it isbadly injured, the burden of proof is on the person who killed the animal tojustify their action.

8. Under section 14 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence torelease or allow to escape into the wild any animal which is of a kind notordinarily resident in GB in a wild state or included in Part 1 of Schedule 9 tothe Act. These animals, which include the grey squirrel and American mink,should be killed in a quick and humane manner.

9. You must dispose of carcasses safely, so they do not cause harm to humanhealth or pollution of the environment.

If you’re interested in attending one of these snaring courses you need to book your place by contacting:  Lynda Ferguson (at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, SP6 1EF) by phone on 01425 651013 or by email at email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The snaring course covers: • Legislation and the new Welsh Government code of best practice  • How to choose your equipment • Snare preparation • Selecting snare locations and how to avoid non-target species • Humane dispatch of foxes and Release of non-target animals. The theory element is taught in the classroom, followed by practical tuition outdoors in choosing snaring sites and setting snares.

The addresses of the venues will be forwarded to delegates on booking. All courses run from 10am to 1pm and cost £72 including VAT. After lunch, delegates also have the option of attending the GWCT corvid cage-trapping course, which is offered at half the usual fee on these occasions. The cost of attending both courses is £108 including VAT. Tea and coffee are provided. Please bring your own packed lunch.

A copy of the Welsh Government Code of best practice on the use of snares in fox control can also be downloaded here: [gview file="http://fuw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/150915-code-of-practice-snares-en.pdf"]

[caption id="attachment_7674" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) FUW President Glyn Roberts, Lesley Griffiths, FUW Montgomeryshire County Chairman Mark Williams and FUW County Executive Officer Emyr Wyn Davies[/caption]

Farmers in Montgomeryshire were delighted to welcome Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, to officially open the new Farmers’ Union of Wales office in Newtown today.

The modern new premises are located at Unit 2, St. Giles Business Park, which is located on the Pool Road, Newtown.

FUW Montgomeryshire County Executive Officer Emyr Wyn Davies said: “I would like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for officially opening our office here in Newtown today. The opening of this new office emphasises the continued dedication of the FUW to its county structure, through which members can receive one-to-one services face to face.

“One of the core reasons for having this and our other ten county offices, is that it enables the FUW to understand different problems faced by farmers across Wales, to gather different perspectives, and react to concerns at an appropriate local and national level.”

Speaking at the opening, FUW President Glyn Roberts reminded the Cabinet Secretary that the issue of bovine TB needs solving urgently.

“One of the strongest messages to come from this county last year was related to bovine TB and the proposals to split Wales up into zones. If those proposals were introduced, there would be five regions with different sets of TB rules within 20 miles of this office.

“We fully understand what the Welsh Government is trying to achieve, and we welcome references made to taking action in the wildlife. We all support the goal, and also understand the logic of having regions. But only where actions are truly holistic.

“People are terrified that this region of Wales will be torn apart, and that we will continue to see a situation where blunt instruments are applied to our cattle, while the bar set for evidence required to take action against wildlife will be beyond reach where it needed,” said Mr Roberts.

[caption id="attachment_6117" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW Managing Director Alan Davies[/caption]

News that Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom rejected an invitation to appear before Welsh Assembly Members and that Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) George Eustice MP has cancelled his evidence session with the Welsh Assembly environment committee's Brexit inquiry at two days' notice, has been described as disappointing news by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “It is really disappointing news that these vital discussions have, at best, been postponed. We recently had meetings with Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, Welsh Secretary of State Alun Cairns and Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths to discuss the future of agriculture in a post-Brexit world.

“The meetings, one of which was instigated by the Wales Office, were very positive and Andrea Leadsom told us that devolution would be “utterly respected” and that is essential.

“There are some complex political principles at stake here, which can only be resolved through cooperation and collaboration between all 4 nations of the United Kingdom. And more importantly, until those principles are resolved we cannot be clear as to who will have primacy of decision making in the long term.”

“The Prime Minister has said that there will be no landgrab of powers from devolved nations. That means that the Welsh Government will be responsible for all agriculture policy, a position we welcome. But we also recognise the need to create and work within a UK Framework that enables and constrains the UK administrations in a way that creates a healthy yet stable home market in the UK.

“We very much hope that this is a postponed opportunity, rather than a failure to start discussions.”

[caption id="attachment_6094" align="alignleft" width="300"] Let us take the stress out of form filling for you![/caption]

It’s that time of year again when we start thinking about SAF forms. With just a few weeks to go until the application window opens, we want to remind you that we are here to help. So let us take the stress of filling the form away from you and give us a call to book your appointment.

The FUW provides this free service exclusively to all members, which has proved invaluable for thousands of members over the years - saving them time and a paperwork-headache. In fact, our recent membership survey revealed that it’s the most valued service we provide you with!

[caption id="attachment_6117" align="alignright" width="300"] "Our staff are not only well trained but very well practiced in dealing with the complex application process"[/caption]

FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “Our staff are not only well trained but very well practiced in dealing with the complex application process.The SAF completion process is probably the single most important form completion exercise being carried out by Welsh farmers since 2004, and the financial repercussions of errors on the forms are severe.”

Since the Welsh Government mandated that all applications should be done online, the FUW is  focused on providing the best possible service to its members and we would love to hear from you in the county office.

“I encourage our members and first time form fillers to contact their local office as soon as possible to book an appointment if they need help in filling out the form. Appointments can be made from the start of March as soon as the application process is open,” added Alan Davies.

Farmers in Wales need to be aware that there have been some changes to the 2017 Cross-Compliance rules. The vast majority of Cross-Compliance rules continue to apply as notified in 2016, but there have been some changes to the following Factsheets, which have been updated by Welsh Government:

• GAEC 3: Water- Groundwater
• GAEC 6: Soil and Organic Matter – Maintenance
• GAEC 7: Maintenance of Landscape Features
• SMR 2: Wild Birds
• SMR 8: Sheep and goat identification
• SMR 10: Restrictions on the use of Plant Protection Products
• SMR 11: Welfare Standards for the Protection of Calves
• SMR 12: Welfare Standards for the Protection of Pigs
• SMR 13: Welfare Standards for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes.

FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle said:

“The majority of the revised factsheets have had fairly minor, but important, word changes to them to help clarify the rules. However SMR 11 and SMR 12 have undergone more significant changes and additional requirements have been added.

“It is important that farmers familiarise themselves with these changes as a breach of the rules could lead to penalties against their 2017 BPS payment.”

So what does it mean for cattle farmers? The new main requirement states that:

• calves must receive at least two liquid feeds per day to gain sufficient nutrition and only when solid feed can be properly digested should it be considered a ‘feed’.

In addition, roughage should be provided from two weeks of age.

The new additions to good practice requirements state that:

• Milk from cows tested and found to be bTB reactors, or inconclusive, should not be fed to calves and may only be fed to animals on the same farm after suitable heat treatment.
• If calves are reared in a system where milk is provided by artificial means, their feed intake should be closely monitored and sick or injured calves must be isolated in suitable accommodation, where appropriate, with dry comfortable bedding.

Pig farmers will have to take note of the rule changes under SMR 12, which apply to all pig keepers, in addition to the requirements for the welfare of all farmed animals (SMR 13).

The new addition to the main requirements now says that:

• where a farrowing crate system is used, piglets must be provided with a source of heat and a solid, dry and comfortable lying area away from the sow where all of them can rest at the same time.
• A part of the floor area where the piglets are kept and which is large enough to allow the animals to rest together at the same time must be solid or covered with a mat, or be littered with straw or other suitable material.

Completely new to the SMR 12 is the Good Practice section, which asks farmers to ensure that:

• tail-docking is not carried out routinely but only where there is evidence that injury to sows’ teats or to other pigs’ ears or tails have occurred.
• Before carrying out tail-docking other measures should be taken to prevent tail-biting and other vices, taking into account environment and stocking densities.
• For that reason, inadequate environmental conditions or management systems are to be changed and it is recommended that best practice is aimed at reducing the need for tail-docking and optimise solutions for providing enrichment materials.

Copies of the revised Cross-Compliance factsheets will not be sent to BPS claimants by RPW but can be accessed in full via the Welsh Government website.