[caption id="attachment_3887" align="aligncenter" width="300"] QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: From left, Chris Lewis, Rhian Nowell-Phillips and Darren Williams[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3888" align="aligncenter" width="300"] PACKED MEETING[/caption]

More than 80 younger Gwent farmers turned up to a packed meeting organised by the county branch of the FUW recently to help explain the various schemes and grants available to assist farmers under 40.

During the meeting at the King of Prussia public house in Abergavenny farm liaison officers Steve Meredith and Jane Walters gave a presentation on the Young Entrant Support Scheme and the young farmer top-up under the new Basic Payment Scheme.

They also explained the requirements for applying to the National Reserve under the New Entrant, Young Farmer and Proof of Production criteria.

Following the presentation, FUW county chairman Chris Lewis conducted a question and answer session with the union’s voice for younger farmers committee chairman Darren Williams and deputy agricultural policy director Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

FUW county executive officer Glyn Davies said a brief questionnaire completed by the attendees highlighted the need for such meetings, with the comments proving the enthusiasm that exists amongst the younger farmers of Gwent.

The intention is to hold a further meeting specifically for this group of members in February, he added.

“It was extremely pleasing to see such a fantastic turn-out for this meeting which highlights the need to involve the future farmers of the county in the work of the union," said Mr Davies.

"These young farmers will be the custodians of our industry for many years to come and it is vital that they are involved in shaping the industry in order to meet the huge challenge of feeding a growing population whilst complying with the myriad of rules and regulations which exist.”

Welsh Government finance and business minister Jane Hutt’s announcement that Aberystwyth University’s  Innovation and Enterprise Campus (AIEC) will be the first multi-million pound project to receive substantial backing through the new £2 billion EU funding programme 2014-2020 was welcomed today by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

“We were pleased to hear that £20m of EU investment will help develop the campus. This is a very worthwhile project and we are pleased to see money from the European Regional Development Fund (RDP) being spent in this way,” said FUW president Emyr Jones.

“Having a new state-of-the-art, internationally recognised facility right on our door step is going to attract further research funding so that companies and researchers can undertake collaborative research projects to boost the bio-economy.

“It is very encouraging to know that the research is predicted to generate innovative new products, services and spin-out companies in sustainable food, health, biotechnology and renewable energy sectors.

“The project at Gogerddan, with an estimated value of more than £35m, will benefit our economy here in Wales and especially locally to Aberystwyth greatly. We must congratulate the University on securing the funding and we hope to see it drive a thriving and prosperous economy forward, boost businesses, increase renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as support infrastructure, skills and help people into work,” added Mr Jones.

[caption id="attachment_3738" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Llew Rees (left) and FUW Ceredigion chairman Aled Rees.[/caption]

A £500 top-up to the Farmers’ Union of Wales Somerset floods appeal fund has been handed over by Gamallt Concrete Ltd, Cardigan.

Llew Rees, the owner of Gamallt Concrete, kindly agreed to donate a percentage from every order placed throughout March to the FUW’s appeal to help flood affected farmers in Somerset.

Mr Rees, a farmer in Brynberian, was one of the Ceredigion farmers to donate silage bales for the first lorry load sent to farmers in Somerset.

He said: “Gamallt Concrete is a rural business at the heart of the countryside and I could see how the devastation in Somerset would have a long term effect on farmers and rural businesses.

“I wanted to help as much as I could, because I know the rural community has and always will support each other.”

The FUW fund has raised a total of £2,255 for the Addington Fund which was instrumental in providing emergency assistance for farmers in Somerset.

[caption id="attachment_3531" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] STAFF AWARD: In January 2012 Mr Jones received the union’s highest insurance book growth award for a book that grew by 32 per cent. He is pictured with FUW president Emyr Jones (left) and deputy president Glyn Roberts[/caption]

ONE of the most familiar Farmers' Union of Wales faces Dei Charles Jones has retired after serving as an area officer in Meirionnydd for over 30 years.

He first began working for the union in July 1981. "It was a time when we didn’t have mobile phones or computers - how times have changed in 33 years," he said.

Recalling his early days with the union, he said: "When I went to collect my first three insurance renewals two of them cancelled their policies.

"But I had received a word of advice from an FUW stalwart when I was appointed who said you will lose policies but remember never close the gate on them by your response. They came back in a couple of years."

Mr Jones, who lives at Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, said it was always pleasing to be able to help members with their problems and there were plenty of them, from milk quota appeals to IACS which became the Single Farm Payment Scheme application forms.

"Another problem that arose was the Chernobyl nuclear fallout disaster and I remember an official of the Welsh Office telling farmers at an open meeting in Coleg Meirion to stop moaning as it would be over in six weeks. My area was still affected 26 years on."

Mr Jones also relished being given the responsibility of helping FUW life member Meurig Voyle with the caretaker/security of the union's pavilion during Royal Welsh Show week.

"That gave me great pleasure as I was meeting members from all over Wales and they became faces which I knew and yearly they would greet me as if they were close friends. It's been an honour to serve the union and its members for the past 33 years."

FUW Insurance Services managing director Mark Roberts said: “Dei has disproved the saying that ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. 

“I have been surprised at how he has embraced FUW Insurance Services’ new technology and I believe he was the first area officer to arrange a policy by electronic means rather than using a traditional proposal form and cover note. He even uses some of the computer systems that our youngest area officers find challenging.

“Dei will be replaced by local boy Emyr Evans, who returns to Frongain, Bala, from Dublin. Emyr realises that he has big boots to fill but is up for the challenge.

“Dei is always cheerful and willing to help and I will miss our little chats but as I sit in the same row as him in Wrexham Football Club’s Racecourse Ground, I know that I will continue to see him!

“I wish Dei a long and happy retirement.”

A new and fresher-looking union website was launched today (Tuesday December 2) by the Farmers' Union of Wales.

The site, which features improved search facilities and a new comprehensive archive for press releases and policy documents, has been redeveloped to make it more user-friendly.

"We are very happy to launch this re-vamped site during the 25th Royal Welsh Winter Fair and hope our members will find it easier to use,” said FUW president Emyr Jones.

“A cleaner look and more user-friendly structure, as well as the option to view the site through the medium of Welsh, has been achieved by working with a dedicated team over the past few years and we thank all of our staff who have helped in getting this new site online.

"The links to all of our social media channels and the Y Tir/Welsh Farmer website are clearly visible and we hope that users will find it easier to contact us through the relevant contact forms on each section of the website.

"A members only area will be added shortly as well and we look forward to working with Sproutee, who have been working so hard on this new site, to get this section up and running."

Deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans’s announcement this morning (Monday December 1) that the recommendations of the independent review into Farming Connect, commissioned by Welsh Government earlier this year, had been accepted in full was welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The review, undertaken by Gareth Williams, makes a number of clear and helpful recommendations on what the next Farming Connect programme should include and considers the proposed approach to delivering knowledge transfer, advice and innovation under the next Rural Development Programme (RDP).

The union’s land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “Having contributed to the review we are extremely pleased that many of our ideas are reflected in the report.

“Ensuring closer relationships between industry and Welsh Government to deliver the RDP programme is welcomed, as is a greater emphasis on encouraging farmers to undertake their own business planning and longer term decision making.

“We also welcome the greater flexibility within the programme which will allow it to adapt to changing industry needs and the retention of the current intervention rates for knowledge transfer, One-to-One advice and training will help drive the industry forward.

“We look forward to working with Welsh Government to ensure that the next Farming Connect programme fully reflects industry needs.”