[caption id="attachment_5802" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] FUW President Glyn Roberts, winner of the outstanding service to Welsh dairy industry award Laurence Harris of Daioni and HSBC Regional Agriculture Manager for Wales Euryn Jones.[/caption]

Well known north Pembrokeshire organic dairy farmer Laurence Harris, who founded the internationally recognised company Daioni, has been honoured with the Farmers’ Union of Wales/ HSBC outstanding service to Welsh dairy industry award at last night’s eve of Dairy Show function in Carmarthen.

A dairy farmer for over 40 years, Laurence has taken Daioni – meaning “goodness” - from strength to strength.

The brand’s humble beginnings began with a 150-acre farm in Pembrokeshire, Wales.  Since taking over Ffosyficer farm – still the heart of the Daioni business – from his father in 1970, Laurence expanded the family farm to well over 3,000 acres of fertile pasture.

“Over the years I became increasingly concerned about our farming practises and how we could improve ourselves - so we converted the farm to organic production in 1999,” said Mr Harris.

Since then, Laurence and his team have added value to their premium quality dairy produce which has culminated in the launch of the Daioni brand and a suite of products that are being sold internationally.

“We initially set up the business with a single tanker and a couple of lorries and sent our milk to north Wales to be processed and packaged and in 2003 we launched Daioni, the first range of flavoured organic milk drinks in Britain,” added Mr Harris.

From the initial interest shown by local schools to put the product in their vending machines as an alternative to fizzy, sugary drinks, the business has flourished.

Today the range of products has grown to include organic fresh milk and cream, organic UHT/longlife milk, alongside the flavoured milk and “Daionic”, an organic longlife high protein sports drink.

“Laurence Harris is a fine example of why our Welsh dairy farmers are the backbone of rural life and I congratulate him wholeheartedly on winning this award today” said FUW president Glyn Roberts. 

“He has achieved so much for Welsh dairy produce and farming over the years – even when Laurence and his family sadly lost the whole of their milking herd to bovine TB in 2009, they decided to face the issue head on and use their story to educate the public about the effect that the disease is having on the agricultural industry and the need for the Government to tackle its spread in cattle and wildlife,”

In 2008 Daioni flavoured milk was exported oversees for the first time and is now stocked in outlets around the world as well as in small retailers and major supermarkets across the UK. 

In addition, in 2012 Daioni became the first British dairy company to gain organic certification in mainland China and in 2014 they opened their Hong Kong office to focus on Asia Pacific sales.  Today exports account for over 15% of the business turnover.

Around twenty local people are employed by the farming business which today is solely owned by the Harris family and continues to go from strength to strength. 

“We pride ourselves on the quality of our organic milk, from home-grown cows that freely roam the grassy climbs of West Wales. Through the combination of happy cows, fertile soils and abundant grass, we have found the winning formula for delicious, flavoursome and quality milk,” said Mr Harris.

FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright, a judge on this year’s award selection panel, said: “Given the many challenges currently facing the Welsh dairy sector, it was a pleasure to reward the hard work, tenacity and innovation of the Harris family.”

Wales' most unusual farmyard - staged next door to a castle, within the world heritage town walls of Conwy - is coming to Gwledd Conwy Feast.

[caption id="attachment_5795" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Caption: Dafydd P Jones FUW Llanrwst insurance officer commentating on the shearing exhibition at Gwledd Conwy Feast[/caption]

The collection of live farm animals at one of Wales’ biggest festivals has been organised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales Caernarfonshire branch.

The festival, taking place on Saturday and Sunday (October 24 -25) within the world heritage site of Conwy, is one of the highlights of the Welsh food calendar and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

A vibrant celebration of food and drink, the festival attracts more than 150 top-quality producers with the majority from Wales.

FUW Caernarfonshire County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin, who has organised the ‘farmyard’, said: “We are very excited to feature shearing displays, wool spinning, and the North Wales Shire Horse Society will be joining us as well.

“Also this year FUW member Gareth Jones from Llanfairfechan, of ‘Snowdonia 1890’ fame, will be present on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon to talk to visitors.

“We will also have goats; Welsh Mountain sheep and Suffolk pigs; Welsh Black, Jersey, Hereford X and Holstein heifers and a shepherd’s crook-making exhibition amongst many other stars in the yard.”

Visitors to the event can also drop into the demonstration kitchens where former Bake Off contestant Beca Lyne-Pirkis, star presenter of S4C's Becws, and local chefs from some of the area's best restaurants will be showing what they can do in the kitchen.

Other festival highlights include a celebration of apple growing and eating, a pop-up restaurant of local produce, two days and two nights of music from some of North Wales' best bands and blinc, an evening digital festival lighting up Conwy Castle and Plas Mawr.

“Gwledd Conwy Feast is the perfect place to celebrate every aspect of Welsh food and support Welsh produce and small businesses, which is why we are taking the opportunity to further promote our ‘Buy the Welsh One’ campaign and are handing out free reusable cotton shopping bags over the weekend,” added Mr Watkin.

Ends

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers to visit their local FUW county offices to collect updated copies of “When the Inspector Calls” – a guide setting out what farmers need to do before an inspection as well as what will happen during the inspection. 

The guide - which is available in English or Welsh- also includes a complete range of farm record templates associated with Cross Compliance and Glastir to help people maintain their records properly and in line with legal requirements.

The agricultural industry was heavily involved in developing the original guide which was issued to members throughout FUW offices in December 2013, and now the guides have been updated to reflect new legal requirements introduced under the 2015-2020 Common Agricultural Policy.

“We urge members to visit their local FUW offices to collect a copy of this new updated guide. Using the old guidance could result in farmers receiving a hefty penalty” said FUW Pembrokeshire county executive officer Rebecca Voyle.

“This is a really clear and useful guide. It tells you exactly what information is required for an inspection and what is expected of farmers during an inspection” added Mrs Voyle.

Some farmers may not have received the original “When the inspector calls” guide in which case they can obtain one for free from their local FUW county office.

A packed programme of events has been arranged by the Farmers’ Union of Wales to coincide with the Welsh Dairy Show in Carmarthen next week (Tuesday, October 20).

The major challenges facing the dairy industry will be to the fore when a meeting will be held at Caws Cenarth near Cardigan on Monday October 19, at 1.30pm, which will be attended by Paul Vernon, chief executive of Glanbia Cheese.

Caws Cenarth is a family business started by Gwynfor and Thelma Adams in 1987 in response to the introduction of milk quotas.

Making cheese from the milk produced by their herd was a way of ensuring that they would not go above their allocated quota of milk and the union is looking forward to discuss the future of dairy farming with them, especially now that milk quotas have been abolished.

Later on Monday evening the FUW’s traditional eve of Welsh Dairy Show function, commencing at 7.30pm and held at Carmarthen Athletic Club, will be addressed by Mr Vernon and will offer delegates the opportunity to discuss the future of the dairy industry with senior representatives from across the dairy sector in Wales.

Mr Vernon has worked in the dairy industry for the past 28 years and prior to this he held a number of senior sales positions with a leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company.

He commenced working in the dairy industry with a Co-Operative based in Northern Ireland and for the past 20 years has been chief executive of Glanbia Cheese, which is head quartered in Northwich, Cheshire.

“The FUW is delighted to have attracted speakers and guest of such quality to address our dinner on the eve of the Welsh Dairy Show function,” said FUW Carmarthen executive officer David Waters.

“The dairy sector is facing immense challenges at present, with falling prices forcing many farmers to re-evaluate their businesses and having to decide whether to stay in milk production or not.

“The events that we have organised will help give farmers an insight into the way the dairy industry is likely to develop in the next few years and we look forward to what promises to be an informative day.”

[caption id="attachment_5779" align="aligncenter" width="293"] FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Brian Richards, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart and FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters[/caption]

EU membership and food security were top of the agenda when Farmers’ Union of Wales Carmarthen members met with local MP Simon Hart at a recent executive meeting.

Following the meeting FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters said: “We were interested to hear the MPs view on being part of the EU and how it had significant implications on Britain and how the referendum in the near future will dictate which path is chosen.

“Mr Hart told delegates that whatever choice is made, the Government would be supportive of the need to ensure a fair price is paid to farmers for production of produce.

“While it is concerns regarding immigration which have been the main driver behind the rise in anti-EU feelings, these have merely added to longstanding frustrations about the impact of EU Regulations in terms of unnecessary bureaucracy and a loss of sovereignty,” added Mr Waters.

“As often as not, the blame for many problems is misplaced, and the real culprits are UK-based administrations which have gold-plated the rules or failed to take advantage of available derogations.

“However, concerns regarding the overzealous and proscriptive nature of many rules and requirements which originate in Brussels are well founded, as are those regarding the dangers of moving towards a federalised Europe.

“Such concerns must of course be balanced against the benefits of membership of the EU, and the dangers of exiting a market upon which so many industries – not least agriculture – are currently dependant.”

The FUW shares many of the frustrations of those who believe radical change is needed in order to address the unnecessary bureaucracy and rules which emanate from Brussels, often backed up by European auditors who have little or no grasp of common sense and equality.

Mr Waters further said that the union also recognises the value of remaining a part of one of the largest common markets and trading blocks in the world, and the irreparable damage caused to farm and food businesses as a result of our exclusion from the EU market during the BSE and Foot and Mouth disease crises stand as testament to the dangers of being locked out of Europe.

Food security was also discussed by members and farmers from across Carmarthenshire heard Mr Hart tell the meeting that it was a fine balancing act between producing a high quality product and not neglecting environmental issues, whilst sustaining rural communities.

FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Brian Richards added that: “When we talk about food security we have to make sure not to ignore our home markets. Research by the New Economics Foundation has shown that for every £1 spent on seasonal, local ingredients, a further £1.19 of economic activity can be generated.”

Each year, £2.4bn is spent by government bodies on food, and while procurement of UK agricultural produce by some authorities has improved significantly over recent years, there remain significant numbers which fail to support British agriculture, choosing instead to accept produce from countries which often fail to meet the UK’s high production standards.

Mr Richards further added that the FUW believes that future governments must proactively encourage and facilitate public and private sector procurement of UK produce in a manner that supports small, medium and large processors and cooperatives.

The union further believes that any future government must instigate procurement policies which encourage the creation of new companies and cooperatives which allow smaller businesses to tender for procurement, in order to bring benefits in terms of local employment and redressing imbalances that currently exist throughout the supply chain.

[caption id="attachment_5770" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW president Glyn Roberts (r) with deputy minister for agriculture Rebecca Evans (l)[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales president Glyn Roberts has described a meeting with deputy minister for agriculture Rebecca Evans as ‘extremely positive’ but warned that major challenges needed addressing over the coming months and years given the current state of farm incomes.

Mr Roberts said it was important that the long term challenges facing the industry were planned for, and that the strategic framework for Welsh agriculture and Rural Development Programme (RDP) are key to addressing these challenges.

During the meeting, held on October 5, a broad variety of issues were discussed, including the latest developments of the RDP, Bovine TB and the recent Welsh Government consultation on access to the countryside.

“With farmgate prices and farm incomes at their lowest for around a decade, Welsh farmers are facing major challenges, with cash flow becoming a major problem for many.

“The fall of around 6 percent in the sterling value of Wales’ Basic Payment budget adds to existing pressures, as is the likelihood that the complexity of the new EU regulations will delay farm payments being made in full.”

Mr Roberts said he was disappointed that the European Commission had not gone further in terms of the concessions, which would have allowed payments to have been released earlier, due to the financial problems facing the industry.

“The fact that all administrative checks and controls must be completed before advance payments can be made in October and the volume of work this represents under the new rules, means hopes raised for the release of early payments following the emergency EU summit last month, were unfounded.

“Nevertheless, we welcomed the deputy minister’s commitment to do everything possible to ensure 70 to 80 percent of payment values are released in December, and urged the Welsh Government to continue that work.”