[caption id="attachment_7601" align="alignleft" width="300"] Promoting Welsh farmhouse produce are (l-r) FUW Ceredigion CEO Mared Rand Jones, FUW Ceredigion County Chairman Anwen Hughes and FUW Ceredigion Administration Assistant Elin Jenkins[/caption]

Over 130 people joined the Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales as they started their day the Welsh Italian way at the end of January.

Two breakfast were organised as part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week campaign (January 21 – January 28), which aimed to raise the profile of Welsh produce and got politicians, key stakeholders and the general public round the breakfast table to see the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

The first breakfast was held on Thursday, January 26, at Neuadd Goffa Felinfach, Lampeter and a further breakfast was held on Friday, January 27, at La Calabria, Rhydgoch, Ffostrasol, Llandysul, where a passion for good food and a love of the Welsh countryside and its people are the driving force behind the Italian family-run restaurant.

[caption id="attachment_7602" align="alignright" width="300"] FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas joins the breakfast in Felinfach, Ceredigion[/caption]

Mared Rand Jones, the County Executive Officer for Ceredigion, who organised the breakfast functions, said: “Our breakfast functions have been a huge success and I am glad so many were able to join us.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to share not just great food but also our thoughts and worries about the state of the industry. Many of you told us your stories and helped us to understand how we can help each other. And there was no better time and place to do all that than over a cuppa with some great food – which was guaranteed at the Felinfach and La Calabria breakfasts.”

As part of the breakfast campaign the local Ceredigion branch also raised £1600 for the FUW president’s charity BHF Cymru.

[caption id="attachment_7603" align="alignleft" width="225"] Cooking up an Italian storm the Welsh way - (l-r) Gino Vasami, Graziella Vasami and Tony Hack[/caption]

BHF are the nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer and their pioneering research has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions and their work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are helping to change the face of the UK’s fight against heart disease.

Mared Rand Jones added: “I would like to thank everyone who sponsored our breakfast produce and helped us raise such a fantastic amount of money for the charity in the process.”

A special thank you from the FUW Ceredigion branch goes to the following for sponsoring the breakfast produce: Mark Webb, Butcher, Rhydlewis; Aeron Bacon Supplies, Butcher, Talsarn; Thomas, Golwg y Môr, Butcher, Tanygroes; Sainsbury’s Lampeter; Bara Betws, Betws Ifan; Jones, Pengraig, Ystrad Meurig - Eggs; Jac’s fruit & veg, mobile van, Llanybydder - mushrooms and tomatoes; Brodyr Davies, Penbwliaid, Bryngwyn - Eggs; Lewis Bread, Lampeter; Felinfach Premier Shop and Post Office, Felinfach.

[caption id="attachment_7596" align="alignleft" width="225"] FUW Glamorgan County Chairman Ritchie Walker and Andrew RT Davies AM highlighting that #FarmingMatters at county breakfast[/caption]

Glamorgan farmers enjoyed a successful breakfast morning, promoting Welsh farmhouse produce and farming matters.

Filling the air with mouth-watering smells, the Glamorgan branch of the FUW joined in the Wales wide FUW campaign, which aimed to raise the profile of Welsh produce and get politicians, key stakeholders and the general public understand the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

The first ever event of its kind was held at Lesser Hall, Cowbridge and was attended by many members, as well as Jane Hutt AM and Andrew RT Davies AM.

FUW Glamorgan County Executive Officer Rachel Saunders said: “We had a really successful breakfast morning and I would like to thank everyone who attended for their support and helping us to showcase why farming matters.

[caption id="attachment_7597" align="alignright" width="223"] FUW Glamorgan County Chairman Ritchie Walker and Jane Hutt AM promote Welsh farmhouse produce and #FarmingMatters[/caption]

“This was our first ever breakfast event and not only did we enjoy some of the wonderful food our farmers produce, we also raised a total of £425 for BHF Cymru, our President’s charity.”

A special thank you is extended to Ty Tanglwyst Dairy and Brynchwith Farm, as well as J G Plant Ltd, HFS Agriculture Ltd, Riverside Hardware and Engineers Supplies, Arthur John & Co, Riverlea Ltd, Pencoed Tyres and S & T Tyre Services for their sponsorship of the breakfast event.

[caption id="attachment_7592" align="alignleft" width="300"] Enjoying a successful Pembrokeshire breakfast: (l-r) FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas, Stephen Crabb MP, Deputy Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council Cllr Keith Lewis, BHF Cymru’s Alan Carrington and FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle.[/caption]

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, so in order to promote the health benefits but also the variety of top quality Welsh breakfast produce available, the Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales hosted a farmhouse breakfast on Friday, January 27, at Crundale Hall, Crundale.

The breakfast, which was attended by over 60 people, was part of the FUW’s farmhouse breakfast week campaign, which aimed to raise the profile of Welsh food produce and to help politicians, key stakeholders and the general public appreciate the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle, who organised the breakfast, said: “I would like to thank everyone who joined us for breakfast here in Pembrokeshire. It was our first ever breakfast function as part of Farmhouse breakfast week and it is great that so many people got involved with what we do.

“It is always good to share thoughts and worries about the state of the industry and this breakfast provided a fantastic platform for exactly that. We loved hearing your views and it helped us to understand how we can better help each other.

“It was a pleasure to start the day together in a positive and healthy way and at the same time we raised £850 for British Heart Foundation Cymru.”

Jayne Lewis, BHF Cymru’s local Fundraising Manager, said:  “It is partners like FUW who help to get our work off the ground to find even more discoveries into heart defects and treatments.  With 1 in 4 people dying of heart disease in Wales, and over 350,000 living with its burden there is still much more we need to know about how to stop this devastation.

“Funds raised by our supporters help us in this fight. Our research journey over the last 50 years has been phenomenal but until research provides all the answers, we are committed to supporting heart patients and their families to get the best possible care and advice. Well done FUW for your help and support."

The Pembrokeshire branch would also like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring the breakfast produce on the day: Bethesda Farm Meats, Bethesda; Calon Wen, Narberth; Cig Lodor Meat, Rosebush; Egg Shed Ltd, Haverfordwest; Elgan’s Sheep Services, Llanfyrnach; Fred Hughes & Son Butchers, Haverfordwest; Morrisons, Haverfordwest; Nash Farm Shop, Cosheston; Nigel Williams Butchers, Haverfordwest; Sarah’s Newsagents, Maenclochog; Tesco, Haverfordwest.

[caption id="attachment_7239" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Policy Officer Charlotte Priddy[/caption]

The announcement that Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket group which controls 30 percent of the UK grocery market, is to buy Booker, the UK’s largest food wholesaler and the company behind Londis and Budgens, in a £3.7bn deal, has been met with concern by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

FUW Policy Officer Charlotte Priddy, said: “There are already well recognised concerns regarding the balance of power along the supply chain being loaded in favour of major retailers, so any moves which increase such imbalances are a great worry."

Mrs Priddy said there were also concerns the merger could have a particularly acute effect over some local supply chains where those companies were the main retailers.

The Union previously welcomed the establishment of the Groceries Code Adjudicator, which was formally established in 2013 to ensure supermarkets treat their suppliers lawfully and fairly.

“The FUW will be monitoring the situation to see what impact it could have on farmers, and we would want to see the Competition and Markets Authority consider the merger carefully.”

A Bingo night organised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales Carmarthen branch has successfully raised £340 for British Heart Foundation Cymru.

The event was held at Talardd Arms, Llanllwni, on Tuesday, 17 January and was well attended by members and friends of the Union.

David Waters, the County Executive Officer for Carmarthenshire , said: “I would like to thank you all for joining us for a fun evening of Bingo. It’s our first fundraiser of the year and it was a good laugh.”

BHF are the nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer and their pioneering research has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions and their work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are helping to change the face of the UK’s fight against heart disease.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has expressed great disappointment that HSBC are closing nine of their branches in Wales.

Affected by the decision are Maesteg in Bridgend county, Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, Fishguard and Narbeth in Pembrokeshire and Churchill Way, as well as Holyhead on Anglesey, Holywell in Flintshire, Llanrwst in Conwy county and Knighton, Powys.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “The closure of rural banks will have a detrimental effect on these areas, as they serve not only villages and small towns but many of the neighbourhoods in surrounding areas, as well as providing employment to local people.

“It will be a great loss to residents and local businesses, particularly the elderly or residents who are unable to travel to the nearest town. The closures will of course also affect small businesses, as they will have to travel further afield for their banking needs.

“In addition, internet banking is not always an option in rural areas; many people will not have an appropriate internet connection if they have a connection at all, and especially the elderly may not be familiar with IT and the process of doing their banking online.

“For many telephone banking is impractical, as they prefer to deal with their personal finances on a one-to-one basis and mobile banking is limited in many rural areas. It is worth considering as well that some people may not be able to get to mobile banks during the short time they are present in villages.

[caption id="attachment_7583" align="alignright" width="300"] It will be a great loss to residents and local businesses, particularly the elderly or residents who are unable to travel to the nearest town. The closures will of course also affect small businesses, as they will have to travel further afield for their banking needs.[/caption]

“With more and more rural services and businesses being closed down, we must also acknowledge that it is becoming less and less attractive for young families and indeed business owners to remain in the countryside.

“If the problem of rural depopulation is not addressed with some urgency it could have severe consequences for our rural communities and with that also our rural economy.

“It is clear that if we want to ensure that Wales develops its full potential in being a rural economic powerhouse, we must make it attractive for working families to stay and also encourage vital services like business banking to remain available in our countryside.

“The provision of acceptable broadband services is an increasingly critical part of meeting the needs of rural Wales.”