The Farmers’ Union of Wales is seeking nominations for this year’s FUW-HSBC Outstanding Service to the Welsh Dairy Industry award.

The winner will be announced, and the presentation made, at this year’s Welsh Dairy Show in Carmarthen on Tuesday, October 25.

Past winners have included former FUW Carmarthenshire County President Ogwyn Evans (in 2008), Carmarthenshire farmer Bryan Thomas – a past member of the Holstein Friesian Society council and founder member of the Welsh Dairy Show (2009) – Flintshire dairy farmer Terrig Morgan – who established a successful discussion group “The Udder Group” in Flintshire for younger milk producers now run by DairyCo (2010) – DairyCo Chairman Tim Bennett (2011), former FUW Milk and Dairy Produce Committee Chairman Eifion Huws from Anglesey (2012), NFU England and Wales Dairy Board Chairman Mansel Raymond, (2013), Gwynedd farmer Rhisiart Tomos Lewis (2014) and Daioni Organic owner Laurence Harris (2015).

FUW Carmarthenshire County Executive Officer David Waters said: “There are a number of other very worthy individuals in Wales who also deserve this award. Nominations should be in the form of a letter or citation giving full details of the work and achievements of the nominee. We have in the past had some very worthy nominations and winners and we look forward to receiving this year’s nominations.”
All nominations need to be sent to the FUW Carmarthenshire county office, 13a Barn Road, Carmarthen, SA31 1DD by Monday, October 3.

The Gwent branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is looking forward to a busy day at Monmouth Show (Thursday 25 August) highlighting that #FarmingMatters and will welcome all including local politicians including Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee David Davies MP  and Nick Ramsey AM, to discuss on farm policy and funding post Brexit at the Union stand throughout the day.

FUW Gwent County Executive Officer Glyn Davies said: “We look forward to discussing #FarmingMatters at the stand with our members and elected politicians and extend a warm welcome for members, guests and friends of the FUW, as in previous years, to join us on the day. Union officials and staff will be on hand to answer questions our members may have.”

The County Show dates back to the late 17th Century and has over 20,000 visitors each year, who all enjoy a taste of farming and the countryside at the stunning showground on the banks of the River Wye in Monmouth.

“Our county show, just like so many others across Wales, are an excellent shop window for our industry; showcasing not just the best of our livestock and food production but also highlight how many other businesses are reliant on the survival of our farming industry. Here at Monmouth Show we will be looking forward to an outstanding Grand Parade of British livestock and horses, which is the highlight of the day and also the thrills and excitement of main ring entertainment, food, farming and a wide range of rural interests,” added Glyn Davies.

[caption id="attachment_6836" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) Arla Board representative Barbara Hughes, FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes, HCC Industry Information Executive John Richards, BWMB Chairman Ian Buchanan, Clwyd YFC Vice Chairman Dewi Parry and FUW Managing Director Alan Davies.[/caption]

The Denbigh and Flint branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has hosted a forum of speakers at their local County show to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of leaving Europe from an agricultural point of view.

Joining the panel discussions, which was chaired by FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes, were FUW Managing Director Alan Davies, Arla Board representative Barbara Hughes, HCC Industry Information Executive John Richards, BWMB Chairman Ian Buchanan and Clwyd YFC Vice Chairman Dewi Parry.

The panel were unanimous in their opinion that the decision to leave the European Union should be seen as an opportunity to shape a future that suits Welsh farmers and not just those across the English Channel.

Speaking after the discussions, FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “This was a democratic decision and as a democratic organisation we will stand by that decision.There is no point in looking back, we must now focus on the future and recognise the excellent opportunity for us to shape our own future, one that suits Welsh agriculture and the people of Britain.

“For the first time in over 40 years we have an opportunity to create a long-term plan that favours Wales. If we focus on that - it will happen. The FUW is currently consulting its membership on what shape our post-Brexit agricultural policies should take and we will continue to make our voice heard in London and Cardiff, representing and fighting for the needs of Welsh farmers.

“The next step for us now is to make it clear what it is we want and to ensure that we get what is best for Wales and our agricultural industry for a sustainable future.”

[caption id="attachment_6827" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths and FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has renewed its call for the Welsh Government to take the lead in initiating plans for more sustainable and supportive public procurement policies ahead of Brexit at the Denbigh and Flint County Show, when Union officials met with Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths.

FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts said: “We had very positive discussions with the Cabinet Secretary and thank her for meeting us at the show.  In our discussions we made it clear that Wales needs to decide what it wants to be and decide what Wales is about. For us it is clear that if those in power do just that they will understand the importance of agriculture. We don’t want to be the same as other countries, we want to create our own future. And in order for us to create our own future Welsh Government has to realise that hiding behind state-aid rules is no longer an option: our schools, hospitals, armed forces and all other public services deserve access to the top quality produce that we grow here in Wales, and our farmers and rural economies deserve recognition for what they produce.

“As an Union we renewed our call for immediate action to initiate draft legislation which will mandate the procurement of British produce by the UK public Sector. This will support rather than spite the sectors which lie at the heart of our rural economies. Our county shows are the perfect shop window not only to show off the great food we produce but also highlight that there are many other industries directly reliant on the success of agriculture. If we want to see Wales and rural Wales prosper and be the Powerhouse it has the potential to be, then we must recognise that family farms lie at the centre of our rural economy, culture and landscape and realise that it makes innumerable other contributions to the well-being of Welsh and UK resident. There are still many uncertainties ahead of us but Welsh Government has it in its power to show its support for our Welsh farming industry by making a commitment to its food producers and custodians of the countryside.”

FUW officials also highlighted that while food production is at the heart of direct economic benefits and the preservation of a culture intrinsically linked to farming, the wider benefits of Welsh agriculture as vast.

“As managers of around 80 percent of Wales’ landmass, us farmers play an invaluable part in managing and preserving the landscape we all enjoy so much. Our countryside is diverse in habitat and species and includes more than 1,000 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and it also brings millions of tourists to our country each year. So yes, we produce food - which is vital in terms of food security, but we also do a lot more than that, something that has to be recognised by all,” added Mr Roberts.

[caption id="attachment_6824" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes, FUW Vice President Richard Vaughan, David Jones MP, Minister of State for Exiting the European Union and FUW President Glyn Roberts[/caption]

The Chancellor Philip Hammond’s recent commitment to funding agricultural support until 2020 came as welcome news for the Welsh agricultural industry. There are however concerns amongst members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales that need to be addressed and these concerns were discussed when FUW officials met with David Jones MP, Minister of State for Exiting the European Union, at the Denbigh and Flint Show.

“Short term commitments are very welcome but there are still issues of clarity that need to be addressed. In the first instance the Chancellor’s statement needs to be localised to a Wales context by the Welsh Government. We really do need absolute clarity for individual schemes running now and upto 2020,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.

Mr Roberts further raised the point that there is the ongoing concern about what funding arrangements will be in place and how they will be controlled.

“We know that agriculture is a devolved issue, but the funding of agricultural policy is not, or not as yet. We therefore need to have an open and honest debate as to what the best way is to manage agricultural budgets post Brexit,” said the Union President.

The FUW’s final concern that is in need of urgent attention, relates to the existing levels of TB that are in excess of anything that will be acceptable to European trade negotiators.

“We fear that if we do not change our policy in relation to the management of Bovine TB in wildlife, our ability to establish trade deals with the European Union may be halted at the first step. Therefore we have asked the Minister to highlight this vital issue to fellow Ministers to ensure that they too are aware of the current threats to successful trade negotiations,” added Glyn Roberts.

[caption id="attachment_6821" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts, Llyr Gruffydd AM and FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes[/caption]

A delegation of Farmers’ Union of Wales officials met with North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd at Denbigh and Flint Show using the opportunity to highlight strategic challenges the UK could face in trade negotiations post-Brexit.

FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet with Llyr Gruffydd here at our county show to discuss many issues of concern to the farming community. A main priority for us was to highlight some of the strategic challenges we could face in future trade negotiations, such as our current bovine TB status. As an Union we are deeply concerned that the existing level of TB is in excess of anything that will be acceptable to European trade negotiators. Consequently, if we do not change our policy in relation to the management of Bovine TB in wildlife, our exports to the European Union, in a post-Brexit world, are under considerable threat.”

Mr Hughes further said that despite the announcement made by the Chancellor Philip Hammond that funding for agricultural support is secured until 2020, which was welcomed, there is a concern that funding after that will focus mainly on environment schemes that don’t support actual food production. In addition, he raised the point that there are many questions as to how current funding support will affect those with agreements under Wales’ rural development programme, making it clear that farmers across Wales need clarity - from Welsh and UK governments - so they can continue to run their businesses and plan for the future.

Union officials also raised the point that planning regulations in rural areas are too tight, which in effect makes it difficult for the next generation farmers to enter the industry and remain in their local communities.

“Our family farms lie at the centre of our rural economy, culture and landscape and it is imperative that Governments don’t undervalue the important role these family farms play. Therefore it is critical that agriculture and domestic food production is given priority during all trade negotiations with other countries and trading blocks and that bureaucracy and restrictions do not adversely impact or hamper Welsh and UK agriculture,” added Mr Hughes.