As farmers in Wales start to receive their Single Application Form packs through the post, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is advising farmers to give the Rural Payments Wales (RPW) online system a try if they are in a position to do so.

Speaking days after DEFRA pulled the plug on the English online application process due to severe technical problems, FUW president Emyr Jones described the RPW online single application system as working exceptionally well under the circumstances.

“Obviously the online system is not for everyone, and there is still a lamentable lack of broadband availability in some areas, but we would advise all those who are in a position to use the system to do so.

“As is inevitable, there have been some teething problems with RPW online, but on the whole it is working exceptionally well, and the bulk of problems are due to the complexity of the underlying EU regulations rather than the system itself,” said Mr Jones.

Mr Jones said that using the online system actually made it easier to deal with those complex EU regulations, as important calculations were performed automatically when the system was used.

“The online system also reduces the risk of costly errors, for example by issuing automatic warnings – something which is not possible with a paper form,” added Mr Jones.

He further added that FUW staff had identified a number of issues with the online system and that the union was in constant communication with Welsh government staff in order to try and resolve these. However, he described those issues as ‘minor’ in the grander scale of things compared with the risks of making errors on the paper form.

Mr Jones also highlighted the hard work FUW staff were undertaking in order to assist members with their online applications.

“Our staff have been working exceptionally hard on members’ SAFs for a number of weeks, and we are indebted to them for this,” he said.

With regard to the possibility of extending the May 15 SAF deadline by a month – a concession already awarded in a number of regions, including England – Mr Jones said the FUW was in ongoing discussions with government and would be raising the issue in a meeting with Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans over the coming days.

“Given the complexity of the forms and pressures on the industry at this time, we certainly feel it would be pragmatic to extend the SAF deadline, but this has to be weighed up against the impact of delaying form processing by a month and the effect this could have on cash flow from December onwards if payments are delayed as a consequence.

“The bottom line is that, where possible, farmers should try and get the forms done as soon as possible, but given the busy time of year and the complexity of the forms that is easier said than done,” added Mr Jones.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the Chancellor’s budget announcement that farmers will be allowed to average their earnings over a five-year period. 

“Being able to average your earnings will smooth the potential wide variations from year to year and allow for better tax planning in the farming industry,” said FUW director of finance David Parker. 

“Farmers are often subjected to volatile market prices and as such their profits fluctuate accordingly. The weather and disease outbreaks are also not to be underestimated when it comes down to how much each farmer earns. The previous provision of averaging your earnings has been extended from two to five years and for this we must congratulate the Chancellor as it will prove immensely helpful to the industry,” added Mr Parker. 

The Union was also pleased to see no further increases in fuel duty.  

“An increase in fuel duty would have had a direct impact on the cost of production at a time when the country needs business to flourish,” added Mr Parker.

As the warmer spring weather leads to a marked increase in badger activity, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers and members of the public to report badgers killed by vehicles to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) so they can be tested for bovine TB.

“Badgers are relatively inactive over the winter but as spring arrives and the weather heats up, there is a step change in their patterns of activity and foraging, meaning they are far more likely to be hit by vehicles,” said FUW TB spokesman Brian Walters.

Mr Walters said testing badgers killed by vehicles contributed important information to our understanding of where badger populations are likely to be passing disease on to other animals.

“Last year almost two-million cattle TB tests were carried out in Wales, yet only a handful of badgers were tested for the disease. Identifying the presence or absence of disease in local badger populations can help inform policies which help eradicate the disease,” added Mr Walters.

However, Mr Walters acknowledged that finding the time to report dead badgers would be difficult for farmers, given the fact that many would be working around the clock, particularly those who are lambing.

“The number of dead badgers people are likely to see on roads will rise significantly over the coming weeks and I would urge anyone who sees a dead badger to try and find the time to contact APHA on 0300 303 8268.”

Mr Walters also warned that dead badgers should not be approached or handled, and pets should not be allowed to come into contact with carcasses as they could be infected with dangerous pathogens, including TB.

More information about the Welsh Government’s found dead survey can be found at http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/disease/bovinetuberculosis/intensive-action-area/badger-found-dead-survey/?lang=en

[caption id="attachment_5069" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Welsh Government farm liaison officer Rita Jones with FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Brian Richards.[/caption]

An open meeting focusing on the changes to farm payments and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been held by the Carmarthenshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The meeting, held on Monday March 2 at Llanarthney Village Hall, attracted a large attendance from members in the county and Welsh Government farm liaison officer Rita Jones gave a presentation on the changes to the Single Application Form and CAP.

The presentation by Mrs Jones was followed by a lively debate and provided members with the opportunity to ask some pertinent questions.

FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters said: “2015 is a critical year in which new Basic Payment entitlements will be created and new rules have changed both eligibility for payments and land management requirements and so I would like to thank Mrs Jones for the informative presentation she gave at our meeting, which shed light on some of the questions our members had regarding the mine-field that is SAF and CAP.”

[caption id="attachment_5061" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has given oral evidence on dairy farming in Wales at a one-off Welsh Affairs Committee session, held earlier this month in London.

The evidence session explored issues such as the impact of recent dairy commodity price falls and price volatility on Welsh dairy farmers, the challenges particular to Welsh dairy farmers and the competitiveness of Welsh dairy farms in comparison to farms in the EU and beyond.  The session also explored the relationship between Welsh dairy farmers and major milk processors and purchasers.

FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright, who represented the union, said: “The Welsh Affairs Committee session provided the FUW with the opportunity to discuss some of the most important issues facing the Welsh dairy sector directly with MPs.  Given the current level of volatility in the dairy sector it was essential that the FUW provide MPs with information on those issues which we believe could help mitigate some of the current problems faced by producers.”

Dr Wright told MPs that the Welsh dairy sector is one of the most efficient in the EU and that the current situation has functioned to devalue a product of high nutritional benefit.

“The union was given the chance to discuss the impact of changes to the Basic Payment Scheme on dairy producers in Wales, alongside issues such as the problems that could occur following the abolition of milk quotas in a few weeks, and the impact of the Voluntary Code of Practice.

“Amongst other issues, MPs were told that the Groceries Code Adjudicator should be able to launch investigations, rather than waiting for producers to provide sufficient evidence, and that indirect suppliers should also be covered by the adjudicator’s remit,” added Dr Wright.

MPs further heard that transparency was essential in the dairy supply chain and needed to improve in order to allow producers and processors to be well placed to  maximise those opportunities that will arise in the export market.

The evidence session further included evidence from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Farming, Food, and the Marine Environment, George Eustice.

The evidence session can be viewed on UK parliament TV: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/welsh-affairs-committee/news/dairy-farming-in-wales/

[caption id="attachment_5058" align="aligncenter" width="169"] FUW arable, horticulture and cropping committee chairman John Savins[/caption]

Pembrokeshire farmer John Savins has been elected as the new chairman of the Farmers’ Union of Wales arable, horticulture and cropping committee at a recent meeting held in Aberystwyth.  

John, 48, who is also the union’s Pembrokeshire county president, runs a herd of 200 store cattle on his 530-acre farm at Boncath, Pembrokeshire, and farms around 130-acres of barley.  

He was born and raised on the family farm in North Pembrokeshire and attended Ysgol Y Preseli followed by Gelli Aur Agricultural College after which he returned home to farm with his parents. 

John first became involved with the FUW when he was voted on to the county committee as the representative for Crymych and since then has served as county vice chairman and then as county chairman, as well as vice chairman for the arable, horticulture and cropping committee.   

“The arable, horticultural and cropping committee covers a wide variety of issues, such as pesticide usage, the growing of feed crops for home use and selling off-farm, and of more immediate concern the implications of the new greening requirements of the new Basic Payment Scheme.  

“I look forward to leading the committee and to continue to represent, support and promote our industry regarding these important issues on behalf of the union,” said Mr Savins.