The Gwent branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has organised an open meeting to discuss the Welsh Government consultation “A refreshed TB Eradication Programme”.

The meeting will be held on Monday, December 12, at the Hogs Head, Llantillio Crossenny, commencing at 7.30pm.

Guest speakers on the night are FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright, Abergavenny Farm First Vets Director Rob Smith and Lyndon Trumper from Monmouthshire Livestock Auctioneers.

FUW Gwent County Executive Officer, Glyn Davies, said: “I would like to  extend a warm welcome to everyone, and urge farmers to use this opportunity to acquaint themselves of the implications of the Welsh Government's consultation, and to explore a way forward to combat Bovine TB.”

[caption id="attachment_7331" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW Anglesey members tell local MP Albert Owen why #FarmingMatters.[/caption]

The Anglesey branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has held a successful meeting with local MP Albert Owen to discuss #FarmingMatters, including the rural economy, Brexit and the importance of the family farm.

The meeting was held on Friday, November 25, at Quirt Farm, Dwyran a council owned dairy farm run by FUW members Richard and Margaret Davies. Also joining the meeting to reinforce the FUW message on why #FarmingMatters to the rural economy was Dyfrig Hughes from BOCM Pauls.

FUW Anglesey County Executive Officer Heidi Williams said: “We had a very good meeting with our local MP Albert Owen today and stressed the importance of agriculture to our rural economy. During our meeting we emphasised that support for agriculture post-Brexit should be maintained  at levels which do not compromise either family farms or rural economies.

“Agriculture and domestic food production must be given priority during all trade negotiations with other countries and trading blocks, and we also stressed that bureaucracy and restrictions must not adversely impact or hamper Welsh and UK agriculture.

“Another issue we highlighted was that irrespective of what trade deals are in place post-Brexit, within the UK, Welsh farmers will compete against their counterparts in other devolved regions and as such we need to make sure that we have a common policy across the UK which minimises unfair competition and market distortion once we have left the European Union.

“We further made the point that the way in which budgets are allocated by UK Governments, and the allocation of devolved budgets through the Barnett Formula, further complicate matters. This represents a significant threat in terms of volatility and any allocation of agricultural funding to Wales.”

Those present were also eager to re-introduce the Milk Marketing Board.

Mr Owen further heard that the sale of local council holdings is of great concern for Anglesey. Heidi Williams added that: “Council farms provide a stepping stone for our young people to get into the industry and whilst we appreciate the financial difficulties councils find themselves in, selling off their holdings does nothing to support those who want to get started in the industry.”

[caption id="attachment_7328" align="alignleft" width="285"] FUW Anglesey CEO Heidi Williams[/caption]

The Anglesey branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has arranged an information evening for farmers to discuss Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, bovine TB and EID Wales amongst other #FarmingMatters.

The event will be held on Tuesday, December 6, at the Anglesey Showground Pavilion reception lounge and is due to commence at 7.30pm.

Keynote speakers on the night are FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright, Welsh Government Farm Liaison Officer Janet Phillips, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Agricultural Manager Richard Berry and NRW Natural Resources Manager for Anglesey and Gwynedd Huw Jones.

FUW Anglesey County Executive Officer Heidi Williams said: “I would like to invite our members to join us for the event, it promises to be an informative evening for all. #FarmingMatters of concern for Anglesey are going to be discussed and I have no doubt that our keynote speakers will able to answer questions our members may want to raise.”

To confirm your attendance please contact the FUW’s Llangefni office on 01248 750250.

The decision made by telecoms regulator Ofcom that BT has to legally separate from its Openreach division, which runs the UK's broadband infrastructure, has been welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales today (Tuesday, November 29).

Commenting on the announcement, FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “This is good news, in terms of making the market fairer to other companies and the consumer. However, Openreach is still owned by BT so the devil will no doubt be in the detail.

“What we need here in Wales is fair and equal access to the country's telecoms infrastructure and this has to be open to BT's competitors so that broadband is available in even the most remote parts of our country. Our rural towns and villages have been left behind in the race for better and faster connectivity and it is critical for the sake of rural businesses and the economy, that tangible improvements are made now.

“2 percent of our population produce around 60 percent of our food. Yet there is a significant part of that 2 percent who remain unable to connect to the internet from their farms and they are suffering from digital exclusion. It really is critical that we close that gap between town and country and make broadband a 21st century normality for those living in rural areas.”

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.

A transition period of at least 10 years is necessary in order to phase in and allow the industry to adjust to new agricultural policies post-Brexit, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has said today.

In addition, the FUW is arguing that agricultural support following our exit from the European Union should be maintained at levels which at least reflect those levels which would have been in place should the UK have voted to remain in the EU.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “A third of Wales’ population live in rural areas where farming, and businesses which rely on agriculture, play an important role in local economies; in sparsely populated areas, where centres of population have less than 2,000 people, around 10 per cent of workers are employed in agriculture. That equivalent to 14 per cent of those employed outside the public sector.

“With this in mind, the FUW has highlighted for many years the wider role agriculture plays in terms of supporting Wales’ rural and wider economy and that’s why we are stressing the fact that agriculture needs to be allowed to adjust to new policies post-Brexit and that support is maintained in line with other EU countries.

“With large numbers of politicians from across the political spectrum seeing the Brexit vote as an opportunity to introduce changes which would have devastating impacts for agriculture, rural communities, and all those involved in food and agricultural supply chains, the need to inform people of the dangers of undermining Welsh agriculture has never been greater.”

As founding members of the Strategic Framework Partnership Group, the FUW has been at the forefront of work which continues to add to the body of knowledge regarding the role played by agriculture in our rural and wider communities.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has today said it believes that irrespective of what trade deals are in place post-Brexit, within the UK, Welsh farmers will compete against their counterparts in other devolved regions.

As such, the Union says that the rationale for having a common policy across the UK which minimises unfair competition and market distortion remains unchanged.

Under the current Common Agricultural Policy, Member States are allocated Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 budgets which must be spent on direct support and rural development over the seven year period of the policy.

That money must be spent by Member States and regions within a set of overarching EU Regulations, aimed at minimising unfair competition between regions and ensuring similar rules are applied in regions and on farms.

Those rules allow a degree of flexibility, allowing administrations such as those in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to implement payment systems and policies which differ, but comply with the overarching principles of the CAP.

“While there is currently no clarity as to what system, if any, should replace the Common Agricultural Policy once the UK leaves the EU, some have argued for a single agricultural policy and budget to be governed by the UK Government, thereby bypassing devolution,  while others believe devolved administrations should have complete autonomy over agricultural budgets and policies,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.

The Union President added that the way in which budgets are allocated by UK Governments, and the allocation of devolved budgets through the Barnett Formula, further complicate matters, and represent a significant threat in terms of volatility and any allocation of agricultural funding to Wales.

The FUW therefore suggests that a UK agricultural framework should be put in place which prevents unfair competition between devolved regions and secures and protects adequate long term funding for agriculture, while also respecting devolved powers over agriculture and the need for flexibility within that framework, which allows devolved governments to make decisions which are appropriate for their regions.

In addition, specific ring-fenced funding for agriculture should be allocated to Wales outside the Barnett Formula, and should be administered by the Welsh Government.