The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed an announcement from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, that the Bovine TB Eradication Programme Board has now been established.

This news completes the revised governance structure following the formation of the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group earlier this year.

FUW Deputy President and dairy farmer, Dai Miles said: “We welcome the news that the Programme Board has been established following the formation of the Technical Advisory Group earlier this year and that letters of appointment have been sent.

“With strong representation from farmers and industry bodies, including the FUW, the group will work closely with the Technical Advisory Group and provide strategic advice to Huw Irranca-Davies on the eradication of bovine TB in Wales.”

The Farmers' Union of Wales is currently enjoying the Eisteddfod at Parc Ynys Angharad Island, Pontypridd this week.

Visitors and eisteddfod goers are warmly welcomed to a jam packed week at the FUW stand on the maes which includes cookery demonstrations and tasting sessions, an agricultural quiz, a discussion about the wool industry and musical entertainment around farm safety with the much loved country singer, Welsh Whisperer.

FUW Deputy County Executive Officer for Gwent and Glamorgan, Gemma Haines, said: “As a native of this area who has rekindled my Welsh language skills, being part of the FUW’s arrangements for this national Eisteddfod event has been very exciting.

"We are keen to bring a piece of rural life to Pontypridd this week to remind local residents, families and visitors where their food comes from.

"We will share key messages about the importance of food quality and security plus we will remind visitors how to care and behave wisely in the countryside. We will also share some farm safety messages in the form of some musical entertainment.

"Farmers and landowners are countryside ambassadors, and by bringing Tegwen our colourful cow to the Eisteddfod, we hope to promote our work whilst offering tea, coffee and cold drinks to people and families while they rest, chat and relax on our stand. The FUW stand can be a destination to pause, rest weary legs and take five minutes from the hustle and bustle of the Festival, while the youngsters enjoy some activities.

“For this county, It is a great privilege to welcome the Eisteddfod here. The preparation work and the fundraising by our communities over months and years has been incredible and the culmination of all the work will pay off this week. Pop along to our stand during the week to visit us," said Gemma Haines.

The week's programme of activities at the FUW stand include:

Monday 5.8.24

10.30 "Our agricultural journey" a panel discussion with former FUW President, Glyn Roberts; Deputy President, Dai Miles; Natalie Hepburn and Heather Jones.

11:30 Natalie Hepburn from Garlic Meadow creates soap

13:00 Cheese tasting, thanks to sponsorship from Calon Wen company

14:00 Cooking using dairy products with chef, Aneira from Cwm Farm Shop

Tuesday 6.8.24

10.30 Women's Institution - Presentation An end to violence against women

14:00 Creating Welsh cakes with Aneira from Cwm Farm Farm Shop and a talk by The DPJ Foundation charity

Wednesday 7.8.24

10.00 Gareth Jones, Head of Members Engagement at the Wool Board gives an overview about Welsh wool

13:00 The future of the wool industry in Wales, with Gareth Jones and farmer, Anwen Hughes

14:00 Art and craft for children using sheep's wool

Thursday 8.8.24

10.00 Rhian Pierce from the RSPB discussing birds on our farms and sharing nature crafts and activities for children and youngsters

11:30 Cooking demonstration with Welsh chef and food expert, Nerys Howell

13:30 Presentation by Lee Oliver from Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Cymru

14:30 Cooking demonstration with Welsh chef and food expert, Nerys Howell

15:30 Rhian Pierce from the RSPB discusses birds on our farms and sharing nature crafts and activities

Friday 9.8.24

11.00 Family agricultural quiz and The DPJ Foundation charity visit the stand

An afternoon of crafts and pom pom with Mari Anne

Saturday 10.8.24 Cooking demonstration with Welsh chef and food expert, Nerys Howell

An afternoon of crafts

The Farmers’ Union of Wales recognised Rhys Beynon-Thomas for his services to agriculture at the Royal Welsh Show.

Rhys Beynon-Thomas is an experienced vet who returned to Wales in 2014 to work as a vet specialising in farm animals in Carmarthenshire alongside farming part time on the family farm at Hendy, Swansea. He is by now a Director at Prostock Vets.

Speaking at the awards presentation, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Rhys has been an advocate and a voice for farmers during one of the most distressing periods that the sector has endured.

“His heartfelt but very effective speeches at the “Digon yw Digon” protests in Carmarthen and Cardiff captured the horror and distress of bovineTB on farming families. His commentary was harrowing and his bravery in being willing to stand up and tell the story from a vet’s perspective was inspiring.”

Rhys said: “It’s a great honour to accept this award from the FUW. I feel that it is my duty as a scientist and a farm vet to discuss the facts surrounding bovine TB in Wales. For too long policy has been dictated by politics and not by science. Gwyddoniaeth nid Gwleidyddiaeth (Science not politics).”

FUW members across Wales voted for Wyn and Enid Davies who run the family farm at Castell Howell near Capel Issac to win the Bob Davies memorial Award. 

Their bravery and strength in allowing the Welsh agricultural TV show ‘Ffermio’ on to their farm to film the horrific process of putting down a quarter of their dairy milking herd due to bovine TB was recognised by FUW members from all over Wales. All three generations at Castell Howell treated their cows as ‘pets’ Enid explained and could not fathom why they had to endure the pain of seeing the cattle being put down on the farm rather than off-site.

The award, in memory of Farmers’ Weekly Wales correspondent Bob Davies, is offered to an individual or group that has raised the public profile of Welsh farming.

Receiving the award, a shepherd's crook specially carved by Richard Hughes, Mathafarn, from FUW president Ian Rickman, Enid Davies said: “We just hoped that by sharing our story it could hopefully help someone else. We wouldn’t wish anyone to go through what we’ve been through and hope that by showing what happened to us we might help other farmers and families feel less alone.”

"Presenting the award, Ian Rickman said: "We can shout and stamp our feet all we want but if our message isn’t heard then our effort is wasted. We need people to hear our story.

“The FUW are truly thankful to Enid, Wyn and all the Davies family for allowing the Ffermio cameras onto their farm during the horrific process of putting down a quarter of their dairy milking herd because of bovine TB.

“Their strength in allowing the public to see them at their most vulnerable is why we were proud to present Enid and Wyn Davies, Castell Howell, Capel Issac with the Bob Davies memorial award.”

An innovative project using canine DNA technology from livestock attacks is taking its next step in the process of engaging with the agricultural community to further develop and promote the technique.

In recent months, the FUW has been at the heart of important discussions to provide better legislative powers in Westminster relating to dog attacks on livestock. The Union has been publically supportive of improved powers for police in order to help officers to respond more effectively when a dog attack has occurred on a farm.

Led by Liverpool’s John Moores University, the project will now begin the task of distributing Canine DNA Collecting Kits to FUW representatives to share with hotspot areas that are seeing recurring problems with dog attacks affecting farms across Wales. 

The kits include swabs, scissors, tape, detailed instructions for DNA collection and information regarding the project. It is hoped that this trial period of testing and collecting could lead to an expansion of the project leading to evidence gathering that could lead to prosecution, down the line.

A panel discussion regarding the project will take place at the Royal Welsh Showground (Wednesday 24 July at 11am in the FUW pavilion). Dr. Nick Dawnay, forensic scientist with 20 years of experience is the Canine DNA Recovery Project lead, is one of the four panel members. He also lectures in Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University. 

North Wales Police’ rural crime team, Rhys Evans, who runs a smallholding in Anglesey keeping cattle and sheep will offer his insight to the project, together with newly elected Carmarthen MP, Ann Davies. She is working closely with Ceredigion MP, Ben Lake who is busy progressing the change in legislation at Westminster. 

Wyn Evans is the fourth panel member. A beef and sheep farmer based in the Ystwyth Valley, he has had personal dealings with dog attacks on his farm. He urges the public to keep their dogs on leads whilst walking in the countryside. 

Chaired by FUW’s Regional Vice President, Anwen Hughes said: “I have been keeping my eye on the developments of this project since its inception and have been involved in many of the discussions regarding livestock worrying issues in Wales, on behalf of FUW members.

“It is difficult to unsee the horror left behind after dogs have attacked and disfigured sheep in a field. It impacts our own mental health and well-being, in addition to the cost implications it has on the business. It is a harrowing situation to be in,” added Anwen Hughes.

Following the third meeting of the Ministerial Roundtable held (23 July) at the Royal Welsh Show, the Welsh Government has confirmed its intentions to pay for the maintenance of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) as part of the Universal Baseline Payment through the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

Speaking after the meeting, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “We highlighted in our comprehensive consultation response earlier this year that some farms are almost entirely categorised as SSSI and would therefore be placed at a severe disadvantage compared to other producers across Wales if they were unable to access maintenance payments.

“The initial proposals would have resulted in the perverse effect of penalising those farming what have been categorised as Wales’ most precious land.

“While some fundamental questions remain around the payment methodology and capacity within Natural Resources Wales to issue management agreements for SSSI sites, we welcome the efforts made by the Welsh Government to address how the SFS can work alongside the regulatory requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

“We are committed to the work of the three Welsh Government groups in working through elements of the scheme in turn, and we certainly see this as an important step forward,” concluded Mr Rickman.