A Carmarthenshire farmer, who launched his industry career on the dairy home farm in Whitland and who has since played an intrinsic role in the development of pedigree and non-pedigree herds, has been recognised for outstanding services to the Welsh Dairy Industry by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

Meurig James FRAgS, of Pengawse Farm, Whitland, started his career in agriculture as a farmer on the family dairy farm at Pengawse Farm, but with a younger brother at home and a limited acreage, he looked for a different career path. 

In 1993 Meurig became breed developer and type classifier for the British Holstein Society and now holds the position of Head of Breed Development for Holstein UK overseeing the classification of 140,000 pedigree and non-pedigree dairy and beef cattle annually. He is also the head of the National Bovine Data Centre.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed a third delay to the introduction of a whole farm nitrogen limit and Welsh Government’s commitment to a higher nitrogen limit for next year.

The announcement by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, confirmed the whole farm nitrogen limit from livestock manure of 170kg per hectare will be delayed until 1 January alongside plans to bring forward amendments to the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations to implement an Enhanced Nutrient Management Approach from 1 January to 31 December 2024.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales Gwent and Glamorgan team enjoyed a successful day at Usk show, putting farming matters discussions and the need for thriving, sustainable, family farms in Wales at the forefront of conversation with politicians.

The team discussed the need for improved food education and awareness of farming practises at school age, the barriers facing farmers in playing their part when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change whilst not undermining food production, as well the new schemes the agricultural industry is engaging with and the problems associated with them.

Primary school pupils from all over Wales are being invited to enter a Christmas card design themed around farming for the FUW’s Christmas card competition.

The FUW is asking children aged from four to 11 to design a Christmas farming scene for its Christmas cards, which will be sold to raise money for the Union’s charity Wales Air Ambulance.

North Wales beef and sheep farming father and daughter team, Glyn Roberts and Beca Glyn, have raised concerns about proposed farming schemes and issues that present barriers to thriving, sustainable, family farms in Wales, when they welcomed Welsh Agriculture Minister Lesley Griffiths to their farm.

Taking Lesley Griffiths around the cattle shed and the fields at Dylasau Uchaf, Glyn Roberts highlighted some of the measures they have put in place to make their farming practices more sustainable. The Minister heard how different bedding for the cattle, such as padded slats instead of plain concrete slats in the cattle sheds, can make a difference of 500 - 600 grams a day of live weight gain to cattle on the same diet.

During a recent meeting of the Farmers' Union of Wales Milk and Dairy Produce Committee, delegates felt that the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2023 would bolster the good practice many milk purchasing businesses in Wales and across the United Kingdom have developed and acted upon since the introduction of the Voluntary Dairy Code in 2012.

Brian Walters, acting Milk and Dairy Produce Committee Chair said: "It’s welcome news to see these regulations being put in place in order to stamp out rogue milk purchasing businesses from abusing their position and exploiting dairy farmers with underhanded business decisions and contractual loopholes.