The Farmers’ Union of Wales is highlighting the reopening of the Glastir Advanced window to those farmers who might be interested.

Following the Fairness for the Uplands judicial review outcome and the removal of the Moorland layer from the scoring, Welsh Government is reopening the Glastir Advanced window between February 9 and March 6.

“Those farmers who had already submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) will have received a rather confusing letter from Welsh Government, which informs them that they need not re apply unless there have been material changes to their circumstances,” said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams.

“Anyone else interested in applying for Glastir Advanced 2016 will need to submit an EoI via an RPW Online account before the  March 6. As a consequence of the judicial review, Welsh Government has also had to review the balance of their Rural Development expenditure and so there are no current plans to open a Glastir Entry window this year,” added Mr Williams.

Farmers’ Union of Wales member Alan Price who farms at Dafadfa Isaf, Gwynfe, Llangadog, in partnership with his wife Ellen, today urged farmers throughout the county to be vigilant after the recent theft of several in-lamb ewes on the farm.

Mr Price said farmers should take note of anything suspicious they may see happening in the countryside and report it to their local community support officer immediately.

His warning follows the theft of 50 in-lamb Welsh mountain ewes from rented land at Derwydd near Llandybie between January 24 and 31.

The family farm approximately 700 sheep and have a small sucker herd, which they keep on 150 acres of owned land at Dafadfa Isaf and rent approximately 100 acres.

“There is evidence that the sheep handling facilities within the field were used to gather the flock and take the sheep. We have reported the theft to the police but unfortunately there are no leads to date,” said Mr Price.

“The in-lamb ewes were mainly three to four years of age and we were due to start lambing at the end of the month and are devastated by this loss, which of course has substantial financial implications for us.”

Mr Price stressed that all farmers should enrol in the Farm Watch Scheme and the OWL system under which any reports of suspicious vehicles or persons can be reported and forwarded to other members of Farm Watch.

FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters said: “Alan has taken a very pro-active approach to further highlight the theft and produced a leaflet detailing the tag numbers and information required about the theft which he is going to place in local marts. If anyone has any information regarding the incident I would urge them to contact their local police station.

“I would further like to highlight the importance of enrolling for the local Farm Watch scheme as it is only by uniting and co-operating that the whole farming community can combat such farm thefts.”

The Glamorgan branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is taking the lead on succession planning with an open meeting focused on the opportunities for new entrants and succession planning by holding an open meeting on Monday February 16.

The meeting will be held at Prince of Wales Inn, Kenfig, Bridgend, CF33 4PR and is due to start at 7.30pm.

“We are looking forward to hosting Farm Liaison Officers Jane Walters and Steve Meredith, and Agri-Advisor Solicitors Dr. Nerys Llewelyn Jones as our speakers for the evening. At the end of last year the annual FUW autumn conference put the spotlight on succession, which is often a taboo subject for farming families, and we are now following up the theme up by holding this open meeting,” said FUW Glamorgan county executive officer Rachel Saunders.

“The range of different opportunities which will be available to young people under the Basic Payment Scheme and  Rural Development Plan can be very confusing and I hope this meeting will help to explain the available options. I also hope that our more ‘mature’ members, whose sons and daughters are farming, will also attend the meeting.

“There are plenty of young enthusiastic people who wish to enter the industry and we also know that there are those looking at the future of their farms who don’t necessarily wanting to relinquish everything.

“I also hope that we can shed further light on some of the myths and preconceptions about joint venture farming and help those who have not yet planned their future and who may be interested in more information on the options available to them,” added Mrs Saunders.

Those wishing to attend the meeting can contact the FUW Glamorgan office on 01446 774838 for more information.

The Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales joined in the effort to highlight the importance of having a good breakfast by hosting two farmhouse breakfast functions during the annual Farmhouse Breakfast week (January 25 to 31).

FUW members Sian and Gareth Price opened their doors on Tuesday, January 27, at Tyn Rhyd, Devils Bridge, Aberystwyth to welcome the rural community for a hearty breakfast in their converted barn, which is also a new business venturing out as a wedding venue, conference and team building location and which also functions as holiday accommodation.

The second breakfast was hosted by FUW members Arwel and Mary Davies of Pantswllt farm, Talgarreg at Talgarreg Memorial Hall on Wednesday, January 28.

“This once again was an excellent opportunity to have a quality Welsh breakfast with items donated by local producers and suppliers such as Birchgrove Eggs, Bara Gwalia of Llanybydder, Owain’s the Butcher of Aberaeron, FUW member and local Llanon butcher Ben Evans and Costcutters Aberaeron, and also a chance for farmers to come together to debate the forthcoming change to an area based CAP payment system and to talk to FUW staff about the new Basic Payment scheme,” said FUW Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones.

“This was about much more than having a hearty breakfast. Through these functions we created opportunities for farmers across the county to debate current Welsh agricultural policy and it gave us the chance as a union to hear their concerns and ensure they are represented.

“We also managed to raise £500 for the president’s charities T? Gobaith and T? Hafan and I would like to thank all our members and staff for their continued support,” added Miss Wyn-Jones.

[caption id="attachment_4372" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW members enjoying a heart Welsh farmhouse breakfast at Tyn Rhyd, Devil’s Bridge.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4373" align="aligncenter" width="225"] FUW Ceredigion county chairman Aled Rees enjoying breakfast at Talgarreg Memorial Hall.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4366" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Nia and Olwen Davies with some of the keen helpers.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4365" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas AM, Dewi and Meinir Owen, FUW Insurance managing director Mark Roberts, FUW Meirionnydd county president Robert W Evans, North Wales Police rural crime officer Dewi Evans and FUW Meirionnydd county excutive officer Huw Jones.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4364" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Beryl Hughes, FUW Meirionnydd county excutive officer Huw Jones, FUW president Emyr Jones, Plaid Cymru election candidate Liz Saville Roberts and Cynan, Ceris and Berwyn Hughes.[/caption]

The Meirionnydd branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has held three successful breakfast functions in aid of last month’s annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week (January 25 to 31) - a campaign organised since 2000 by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) .

On Monday January 26 FUW members Olwen and Nia Davies, of Ty Cerrig, hosted a breakfast at Parc at Ysgol y Parc, near Bala, on Thursday January 29 Berwyn, Cerys and Beryl Hughes hosted a breakfast function at Llew Coch, Dinas Mawddwy and Dewi and Meinir Owen hosted the final county breakfast on Friday January 30 at Esgairgyfela, Aberdyfi.

“The aim was to highlight the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and bringing the community together to discuss current agricultural topics and of course also to sample our wonderful Welsh produce, but also to raise money in aid of the FUW presidents’ charities T? Hafan and T? Gobaith,” said FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones.

“We are delighted to have raised around £1,150 for the charities in our county and are extremely grateful to all those who sponsored the events, to all who assissted with the arrangements and to everyone who attended the functions,” added Mr Jones.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans' announcement that private vets will remain at the heart of TB testing procedures in Wales.

Two "Delivery Partners" have successfully tendered for TB testing in Wales - Menter a Busnes in North Wales and Iechyd Da (Gwledig) Ltd in South Wales.

FUW animal health and welfare committee chairman Catherine Nakielny said: “The union is pleased that private vets will remain central to TB testing in Wales.

"The FUW believes that only private vets have knowledge of the farm business and of the local disease situation."

Farmers will continue to be responsible for ensuring that TB testing is completed on time but in future they will need to contact their regional Delivery Partner to make the arrangements.

Delivery Partners will then be responsible for allocating the actual testing activity through their network of practices and for assuring the quality of the work performed.

Work that has already been assigned to Official Veterinarian (OV) practices under existing arrangements will be completed by those practices but from April 1 all new work will be undertaken by Delivery Partners.

When making arrangements for tests, farmers and livestock keepers can express a preference to use a specific veterinary practice from within the Delivery Partners network to undertake their testing, and this preference will be honoured where possible.

Farmers and livestock keepers who would prefer to use a practice that is not part of the Delivery Partners network retain an option to pay for the testing privately.

“The announcement provides certainty to farmers in Wales about the future of TB testing and the continued and critical role of the private vet in the control and eradication of bovine TB,” added Miss Nakielny.