Farmers’ Union of Wales Montgomeryshire county chairman Mark Williams is opening his farm gates to host a general elections hustings for members of the union.

The event, which will take place on the family farm on Friday, 1 May at Pen Y Derw, Forden, Welshpool, will start at 11am.

Speaking at the hustings will be Conservative party candidate Glyn Davies, Liberal Democrat party candidate Jane Dodds, Plaid Cymru candidate Ann Griffith, UKIP candidate Des Parkinson, Labour party candidate Martyn Singleton and Green party candidate Richard Chaloner.

“It is not hard to guess that the general election is upon us soon with the countryside in Montgomeryshire becoming more colourful lately and awash with political placards. For me, I think it is the most important election during my voting history, with a possible referendum on Europe on the cards.  It could have huge consequences on agriculture without a doubt,” said Mark Williams.

“So to clarify some of the election issues I am hosting a hustings on behalf of the FUW at my farm and it will be a great chance to question the general election candidates on their policies. I would like to invite members and friends of the union to join us for this important event and hope to see especially a few of our younger members there,” added Mr Williams.

Mark has been running the sheep and beef farm since 2001, following the retirement of his parents from the industry after the foot and mouth crisis.

In total he keeps a flock of 1000 ewes and a herd of 40 suckler cows on the 700 acre holding.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy here in Montgomeryshire as it is in communities across Wales and the UK. It is essential that Members of Parliament and those in power after the 7 May elections recognise the importance of supporting our industry.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has warned of a desperate need for improved farmgate returns given low farm incomes and the uncertainty facing the industry over the coming years.

Speaking in response to falling cattle prices, FUW livestock, wool and marts committee chairman Dafydd Roberts, said: “Last year saw prices fall by 15 percent between January and July, and current prices have fallen to around five percent below what they were this time last year. If prices follow last year’s trend it will have a severe impact on the sector.”

Mr Roberts said all sectors in Wales were facing major challenges, highlighting a fall in farm business incomes of around 40 percent over the past five years, with a 20 to 25 percent fall over the past year alone.

“On top of this we now face a period of extreme uncertainty due to the changes to the payment regime and the likelihood of delayed payments over the next twelve months,” he added.

Mr Roberts said supermarkets and other key players in the supply chain needed to demonstrate awareness of the challenges facing agricultural and the risks of failing to ensure fair farmgate returns.

“Despite consumer support for British agriculture, poor profitability has hit cattle numbers in particular, with numbers down 20 percent in Wales compared with a decade ago.

“Action needs to be taken to show solid commitment to Welsh and British agriculture in order to protect supplies. Otherwise unacceptably low farm incomes and the financial uncertainties facing us over the next twelve months will have an impact on the supply chain as a whole, with a major knock-on effect for rural economies,” added Mr Roberts.

The Anglesey branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is giving members and friends of the union the chance to question general election candidates on the island about the future of the rural industry.

The event will take place on Tuesday April 14 commencing at 7.30pm at Môn Karting, Bodedern and will focus on the agricultural industry and rural Anglesey.

“Farm Business Survey figures demonstrate that each year the average Welsh farm can inject upwards of £100,000 into the wider economy, benefiting a vast array of businesses including many not directly associated with agriculture,” said FUW Anglesey county executive officer Heidi Williams.

“Farming continues to be the bedrock of rural areas, both socially and economically, and there can be no doubt that the impact of the financial crisis has been buffered by the core role agriculture has played in generating income for communities the length and breadth of the UK.

“With that in mind, I would like to invite members and friends of the union to join us for the evening and ask the general election candidates about what their party will do for the rural industry on Anglesey and for agriculture,” added Mrs Williams.

Candidates confirmed to attend the general election hustings are Plaid Cymru candidate John Rowland, Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Rosental, Socialist Labour Party candidate Liz Screen, Labour party candidate Albert Owen, Conservative party candidate Michelle Willis and UKIP candidate Nathan Gill.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers to start completing their Single Application Forms (SAFs) as soon as possible following Deputy Minister Rebecca Evans’ announcement that the Friday May 15 submission deadline would not be extended in Wales. 

The SAF completion process is the single most important form completion exercise being carried out by Welsh farmers since 2004, and the financial repercussions of errors on the forms are severe. DEFRA confirmed in March that the deadline for submitting English forms had been extended to June 15 following the collapse of the English online application system and agreement by the EU that extensions would be allowed.

However, last week Wales’ Deputy Minister for Farming and Food announced that the Welsh Government would be sticking with the May 15 deadline as delaying the submission deadline would delay part-payments, thereby causing cash-flow problems for farmers, while also risking the loss of rural development funding.

According to the Welsh Government, around 1,400 of forms had been submitted as of April 2, meaning around 15,000 remain to be submitted over the coming weeks.

“This year’s form will establish farm payments for the foreseeable future,” said FUW head of policy Dr Nick Fenwick.

“The fact that sketch maps have to accompany the forms, agri-environment claims have to be detailed on the form and complex greening calculations have to be undertaken mean forms which usually take a few hours are taking days to complete.”

Dr Fenwick said the FUW fully appreciated the Welsh Government’s predicament in terms of the risks of extending the deadline.

“It really is a Catch 22 situation where the impacts of delaying the deadline have to be balanced against the risk that a proportion of the 15,000 who have yet to submit their forms will find it difficult or impossible to get the necessary support to help complete their forms correctly.

“It’s a difficult message given the busy time of year for the industry, but people need to start completing their forms as a matter of urgency as in many cases completion can take days and require additional information or data to be added to the form,” added Dr Fenwick.

In the meantime, Dr Fenwick said the FUW had written to the Deputy Minister urging her to keep an open mind to the possibility of opting for an extension.

“Only around 15 percent of forms have been submitted to date and we know that submitting a vast proportion of those has meant people working long hours and holidays to cope with the burden. As such, we have urged the Deputy Minister to reassess the situation at the end of April, but at the moment we must presume that the deadline is May 15,” he added.

The Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is holding a special meeting to provide members and friends of the union with an opportunity to quiz general election candidates in the county.

The event will take place on Thursday April 9 commencing at 7.30pm at Aberaeron Rugby Club and has been jointly organised with Wynnstay plc and the CLA.

“This will be the largest and most comprehensive agricultural hustings in Ceredigion and all are welcome to hear the candidates’ debate the future of our industry. It promises to be a lively event and we are delighted to have joined forces with other sectors of the agricultural industry in order to create an overarching agricultural hustings event for all Ceredigion farmers,” said FUW Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones.

Candidates confirmed to attend the general election hustings are Plaid Cymru candidate Mike Parker, Labour party candidate Huw Thomas, Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Williams, Green Party candidate Daniel Thompson and UKIP candidate Gethin James.

“The implications of decisions made in Westminster have a significant effect on the day-to-day working of farmers and landowners and even though many of the rules and regulations stem from the European Parliament, the UK as a member-state has an essential role to play around that table.

“It is essential for farmers and landowners to have the opportunity to question and query party candidates as well as hearing their views on the future of rural Wales. The meeting will be chaired by local Independent councillor and farmer Gareth Lloyd of Clettwr Farm, Talgarreg, and we would like to extend a warm welcome to all those able to take an hour away from the lambing and calving to join us for this important event,” added Miss Wyn-Jones.

The dairy industry has today launched its ‘Action Johne’s’ initiative; a disease control programme developed by the Action Group on Johne’s which aims at engaging eighty per cent of dairy farmers in Great Britain in Johne’s management activities by October 2016.

FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright said: “The union recognises the importance of tackling this costly disease and has engaged in the development of this initiative in order to give voice to the perspectives and needs of farmers in Wales.  The union will continue to remain involved in order to ensure that the maximum benefits of this valuable initiative are provided to Wales.”

Johne’s disease is a chronic wasting disease in cattle that is found in dairy herds throughout the world.  The disease is caused by a bacterium that primarily attacks the intestinal tract and causes inflammation.  This inflammation reduces the ability of infected animals to properly absorb nutrients from their food and can lead to weight loss, loss of condition and infertility.

The Dairy UK-led 'Action Group for Johne's', which includes the FUW and other industry stakeholders, was established to increase awareness of the disease and ensure more farmers take action to prevent their livestock from catching it.

Dr Wright added that it is vital that we have a viable and sustainable dairy industry and in that respect it is important that we address issues such as Johne’s disease in dairy herds.

“Clinical signs of the disease are not specific to Johne’s and do not show in cattle until they are about three years old. There is no cure for the disease and a lack of clinical signs can lead to cattle being culled for other reasons such as infertility or lameness,” said Dr Wright.

Infection is most common in young animals and occurs through contamination of the environment or ingestion of contaminated milk from an infected cow. It can also be transmitted from an infected pregnant animal to its foetus.

“In the past, the union has highlighted that farmers can actively help to eliminate the disease by reducing the amount of faecal contamination that young calves are exposed to. A non-infected herd generally becomes exposed through herd expansion or replacement animals that are carriers of the disease. It is therefore important to know the Johne’s status of the animals being purchased.

“Given that a Johne’s problem can reduce the life time productivity and health of infected herds, it is essential that we understand how to manage this disease in order to get the best out of our herds,” added Dr Wright.