The widespread uncertainty facing Welsh agriculture and the rural economy, and how agriculture might best be supported following an exit from the European Union, were key topics of discussion during a meeting of Farmers’ Union of Wales standing committee and county branch chairmen today.

The meeting took place ahead of a meeting with Welsh Ministers Carwyn Jones and Lesley Griffiths.

During the meeting, members emphasised the need for a reasonable timetable for negotiations and a smooth transition for the country was supported. Members also emphasised that a fair and sustainable future for Wales and its rural economy and agriculture could only be secured if farm incomes improved.

FUW President Glyn Roberts, who chaired the meeting, said "There were a wider range of questions, from the impact Brexit could have on our TB eradication programme and our exports, to the impact Brexit could have on devolution and the Barnett Formula.

"There was general agreement that the Brexit timetable would make far more sense if aligned with the EU budgetary period which ends in 2020, since the work associated with negotiations, discussions, and legislative changes during an exit process is unprecedented."

Mr Roberts said that, having been involved in the CAP negotiations with Welsh Government and the EU from 2008 onwards, and having witnessed first hand the problems caused by having to accelerated negotiations over a short period, the Union was well aware of the problems which could follow a hasty Brexit.

Mr Roberts said that the meeting was the first of many which would take place with members over the coming weeks, months and years, in order to ensure that the needs of agriculture and rural economies were met during the forthcoming negotiations and beyond.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is warning members and rural business not to respond to a scam letter issued by ‘Welsh Commercial Register’ asking them to provide details of their company.

The letter, which reads: “...If you require the publication of further company details which exceeds the scope of the basic data entry, please use the attached form and return this to us. As our company is not affiliated with a public authority or any official entity, this entry is subject to a charge….”

The attached form asks businesses to enter their details for which they will get charged 993 Euros plus VAT. By signing the form the person authorises ‘Direct Publisher S.L.U.’ to record and publish the information and data provided as an advertising insert for a period of three years.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “This letter has been made to look like official Government communication, which could easily trick many farmers and rural business owners into providing their details.

“The financial implication of providing the company with business details could be devastating. I urge farmers and rural business owners to remain vigilant against these scam letters.” 

Any farmer who is unsure as to the validity of a letter asking for financial or business details should contact their local trading standards office or contact the Citizens Advice consumer services on 03454 04 05 06 or a Welsh line on 03454 04 05 05.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to delay invoking Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon and has called for the UK and EU to agree on a sensible timetable for Brexit after the UK electorate voted to leave the EU - or risk dire consequences for both the UK and the remaining 27 Member States.

“The FUW supported the remain campaign and was a member of Stronger In Europe, so we are naturally disappointed with the outcome,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.

“However, as a democratic organisation we fully respect the outcome of the vote, and work must now start to build a positive future for farming and the rural economy of Wales outside the EU.”

Mr Roberts said the timescale of an exit was crucial to such planning, and that exit over too short a period would have dire consequences for both the UK and the EU.

“There is a monumental amount of work to do in terms of changing domestic arrangements and legislation, including in terms of Welsh devolved legislation, not to mention unravelling us from the EU budget to which we were previously committed, negotiating trade deals and dealing with issues such as border controls.

“Such issues will also require a huge amount of work at the EU level, and we do not believe a rapid exit over a couple of years would be in either the UK or the EU’s interests.

“It is likely to leave everyone with the worst of all worlds,” he added.

The Union has called for early meetings with the Welsh Government and is also engaged with UK Government to ensure that the voice of Welsh farming is heard during these challenging times.

“We have also reached out to other non-member states in order to better understand agricultural models in countries such as Norway and Switzerland, and these knowledge exchanges will ensure that the experience of other nations can benefit any plans being developed in Wales,” said Mr Roberts.

The FUW will also be using its wide network of county branches to ensure that the voice and views of members throughout Wales are heard during the planning and negotiation phases of any exit. A meeting of County Chairmen is planned for the first week of July.

“Our members’ voices must be heard, so we will consult with them as widely as we can to ensure that Wales gets what it needs to ensure a sustainable agricultural future and stronger rural economies.”

The people have spoken and we respect the power of democratic decision making and must now work to develop appropriate plans and solutions for the future of agriculture. 

Careful consideration now needs to be given to the timetable for exit and our current thinking is that, if possible, our formal exit should coincide with the end of the current EU budgetary period in 2020 in order to help ensure a smooth transition.

Unravelling us from the EU budget to which we were previously committed; negotiating trade deals and dealing with issues such as border controls will take time. We do not believe a rapid exit over a couple of years would be in anyone’s interests and could leave us with the worst of all worlds.

This morning we are no wiser than we have been in recent weeks. There remains no clarity on what the future holds so our immediate concerns are to gain clarity and indeed to help shape that clarity for the benefit of farmers in Wales.

[caption id="attachment_6456" align="alignleft" width="300"] Making the case for better broadband (l-r) are FUW Meirionnydd County Executive Officer Huw Jones, Councillor John Pugh Roberts, FUW Meirionnydd County Chairman Euros Pugh, Liz Saville Roberts MP, FUW member Sion Ifans and his wife Gwawr, Ofcom Director for Wales Rhodri Williams and BT Programme Manager for Wales Martin Jones.[/caption]

The internet - defined as the worldwide interconnection of individual networks operated by government, industry, academia, and private parties - originally served to interconnect laboratories engaged in government research.

In a matter of a very few years, the internet consolidated itself as a very powerful platform that has changed the way we do business, and the way we communicate, forever.

The number of internet users worldwide has skyrocketed with just 14 million users worldwide in 1993 to more than 3 billion people today, according to the United Nations agency that oversees international communications.

In the early years many were concerned that the dawn of the internet would widen the gap between developed and developing nations.

The digital divide is a social theory conceived in the late 1990s about the disadvantages for those who do not have good access to the internet compared to those who do, is very much apparent in even the most surprising areas.

To highlight the problem of a lack of broadband in Wales, the Meirionnydd branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held a farm visit on Friday, June 10 at Brynuchaf, Llanymawddwy, nr Dinas Mawddwy, Machynlleth, Powys.

Farmers in the county have described the lack of broadband as a major problem especially when it comes to RPW online, VAT online, and BCMS.

FUW member Sion Ifans, who hosted the event and whose property has extremely poor connection, said: “We recognise the many benefits of completing essential paperwork online, but there is still a persistent problem for our rural communities that needs to be addressed urgently.

“The range of services and opportunities which are exclusively available through the internet has grown significantly over the past decade, and access to broadband is now regarded as a necessity by the majority of UK businesses and households.

“However, with access to broadband still well below the national average in many of our rural areas, and farm businesses representing the highest proportion of those with no broadband access, it is essential that the limitations of online services and communications are recognised, and that rural access to broadband is increased.”

In addition, those who are letting self-catering cottages are placed at a significant disadvantage, as WIFI availability is now required to successfully market their businesses.

Huw Jones, the union’s county executive officer for Meirionnydd, said: “Children are unable to access broadband for their school or college work and anyone who wishes to work from home or explore diversification enterprises, are finding themselves in unfavourable circumstances.

“Moreover, given the rate at which the rules relating to agriculture change, and the penalties associated with breaching those rules, it is essential that such changes are either communicated to the industry in an accessible format, either by retaining paper copies or making sure that each and every single household has access to the internet.

“It is vital that the limited extent of broadband access in many of Wales’ rural communities is recognised by our administrations and that they do their utmost to ensure no business is placed at a disadvantage as a result of the move to online services.

“A lot of work has been done over the past four years to improve services for broadband access and a lot of money has been invested by Welsh Government to improve the ‘superfast’ service – however that service is still not reaching all farmers and other rural businesses across Wales”.

Also attending the event was local MP Liz Saville Roberts,who said: “Broadband availability in many parts of Dwyfor Meirionnydd is woeful, particularly in outlying rural communities, where many feel cut off by the lack of network provision.

"The availability of reliable, super-fast broadband is of utmost importance to many small businesses in my constituency, many of whom are frustrated with the slow roll-out of the service.

"Since being elected I have lobbied the Government hard on this issue and called for rural areas such as parts of Meirionnydd to be given priority when it comes to rolling out broadband."

Local Gwynedd Councillor for the Corris/ Mawddwy area John Pughe Roberts, who played a part in the days arrangements said: “It is imperative that everything is done to support those living in rural communities who wish to run their own businesses or even charitable projects from home for the economic prosperity of the countryside.

“I am determined to see this important issue being resolved – it is very unfair for those living in rural areas to be at a disadvantage.”