The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed Hybu Cig Cymru’s (HCC) decision to conduct a review into the future of the beef industry in Wales - and has reiterated its call for supermarkets to bolster support for the Welsh beef industry.

FUW vice president Brian Thomas, who farms pedigree beef shorthorns in north Pembrokeshire, said he had been inundated by phone calls from beef farmers regarding the current low prices and a fall in Welsh slaughterhouse throughputs caused by cheap imports.

“There is real concern out there with receipts for steers down between £170 and £200 a head, and this is having a major impact on farmer confidence. Without confidence the reinvestment needed to ensure the long-term viability of the industry will fall away.

“Farmers have also been unable to book cattle into slaughterhouses due to the fall in throughput caused by cheap imports, and this leads to an increase in losses as animals have to be kept for longer and may pass prime condition.”

Mr Thomas said the fall in prices and throughput was adding to existing worries over the fall in single payment receipts.

“Many beef farmers will be hit hard by the movement to a flat-rate payment system and the decision to transfer 15 per cent of the single payment budget to Pillar 2.

“The review instigated by HCC’s Board of Directors is extremely timely and welcome, and it is imperative that the findings are used to ensure the Welsh Government acts on its commitment to using Pillar 2 funds to improve farm profitability.”

[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW vice president Brian Thomas[/caption]

A joint meeting of the Farmers' Union of Wales' livestock, wool and marts and the hill farming and marginal land committees has warned that action must be taken to bolster confidence in the industry following the current downward trend in beef prices.

After the meeting, livestock, wool and marts committee chairman Dafydd Roberts expressed committee delegates' concern that beef imports selling at less than the cost of production was hitting Welsh beef producers hard and called on retailers to bolster producer confidence by increasing farmgate prices.

According to Meat Promotion Wales (Hybu Cig Cymru), figures between January and the week ending April 19 revealed Welsh prime cattle prices had consistently fallen and were more than 30p per kg lower than for the same period last year.

"The supply chain, and that includes supermarkets where the majority of beef is bought for household consumption, must appreciate the consequences of buying cheap imports," said Mr Roberts.

"Industry confidence levels - and, therefore, the willingness to invest - are at a worrying low which could affect the future of the Wales beef herd.

"We have an emerging quality brand in Wales in Welsh Beef and it is in all our interests to nurture and promote the industry. But without profitability, supply will be a problem in the coming years.

"Turning the tap on and off in terms of the beef supply chain is not possible as growing this quality food product is a medium to long term business.

"We need a resilient beef industry to ensure there is product for the emerging demands for a quality brand and to help maintain the environmental characteristics of Wales, particularly the upland areas.

"Keeping cattle is a fundamental contributor to the uniqueness of the Welsh landscape and it is essential that both the supply chain and government support Welsh beef production."

[caption id="attachment_2293" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Anglesey beef and sheep farmer Dafydd Roberts, chairman of the union's livestock, wool and marts committee[/caption]

A "stunning" silver, Welsh slate and Welsh wool crown created by a local farmer's daughter and sponsored by the county's Farmers' Union of Wales branch has been handed over to the organisers of this year's Urdd National Eisteddfod at Bala (May 26-31).

Young Mallwyd artist Mari Eluned made the crown that will be presented to the winning Urdd Gobaith Cymru litterateur in the pavilion at 14.30 on Friday May 30.

FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones said: "Mari is a talented artist and her work is highly respected, locally and nationally, and, of course, she’s a local farm girl from Meirionnydd.

"We were very happy with the draft designs given to us on paper some months ago but only after seeing the completed crown can we fully appreciate how stunning it is."

After graduating with a first class honours degree in jewellery silversmithing from Loughborough University in 2006, Mari returned to Wales to start her own business "Mari Eluned" producing unique jewellery that combines Welsh slate with silver from her home in Mallwyd.

The business has gone from strength to strength and in 2009 she won the "Young Craft Worker/Artist of the Year" title in the 2009 Gwynedd Taste & Talent awards.

The crown was inspired by the spring season and created using silver, gold, Welsh slate and green cloth woven from Welsh wool.

Mari, who began work on the crown in March, said: “The crown is formed from a series of interlinking silver buds that vary in size to convey the development of the Daffodil from bud to flower. The front of the crown is adorned with daffodils made from slate, gold and silver.

“In addition, the contours of some of Meirionnydd’s mountains are etched on the silver whilst the use of green wool reflects the rural countryside. A button, crafted from slate, with gold and silver symbolises the summit.”

“I was recently commissioned by FUW to create the crown for Eisteddfod Powys, but when they contacted me regarding the Urdd crown I was extremely privileged.”

[caption id="attachment_2858" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Eisteddfod crown 2014[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2859" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Crown presentation: (from left) FUW president Emyr Jones, chairman of the eisteddfod’s executive committee Hedd Pugh, Mari Eluned and Huw Jones[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has organised a European Election hustings for Ceredigion voters on May 13 at the Llanina Hotel, Llanarth, starting at 7.30pm.

FUW county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones said: “It seems that this is the only hustings of its kind to be held in Ceredigion and we strongly believe it’s essential for electors to have the chance to ask questions to the candidates as well as listen to their views and opinions.

“There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions during the evening as well as hear each party’s aspirations for Wales within Europe.”

Five party representatives - Alec Dauncey (Liberal Democrat), Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru), Alex Thomas (Labour), Aled Davies (Conservative) and Anthony Slaughter (Green Party) - will take part.

For more information or to book your place, contact Caryl Wyn-Jones on 01545 571 222.

With only two weeks left until the May 15 deadline for IACS/Single Application Form (SAF) submission, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers to ensure forms are completed accurately and submitted on time as failure to do so could drastically reduce their payments not just in 2014 but also over the coming four years.

FUW president Emyr Jones said: “We’re still awaiting confirmation from Welsh Government of how payments will be calculated from 2015 onwards, but it seems highly likely that the Single Payment a farmer receives in December 2014 will be used as a reference for calculating the historical element of payment entitlements from 2015 to 2019.

“This means that a simple mistake - or worse still failure to submit the form this year - could not only lead to a loss of payment in 2014, but also a growing loss over the coming four years.”

The Welsh Government hopes to introduce transitional payment entitlement values based upon historical:flat rate ratios of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 and 20:80 in the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Regulations, the historical baseline value of payment entitlements can be based on the Single Payment made to a farmer in 2014 and, if such a system is adopted, this means a fall in the payment received in 2014 would lead to lower payments in 2015-2019.

“This means that every €1,000 lost in 2014 due to errors or failure to submit the form could lead to a total further loss over the 2015 to 2019 period of up to €2,000, “ Mr Jones added.

The news that Dairy Crest is to reduce its farm gate milk prices by 2 pence per litre (ppl) to its unaligned producers is a disgrace and highlights the weakness of milk contracts in general, the Farmers' Union of Wales dairy and milk committee chairman Dei Davies said today.

"The rate these milk producers will now get paid is 3-4ppl below the costs of production, which is quite frankly scandalous," said Mr Davies.

"Dairy farmers are often adversely affected by poor contracts. They may be required to give 12 or more months' notice to pull out but the price the farmer is paid can be changed at a few days' notice  by the processor," added Mr Davies.

"There is no reason for these milk prices to drop other than that Dairy Crest has lost the contract of a major supermarket and this is putting dairy farmers in an impossible situation.

"The Union believes that urgent Government action is required to eliminate unreasonable contractual practices and create fairer and more balanced terms for farmers.

"It is obvious that there is a need to introduce legislation as a matter of urgency if the Government wants to ensure the survival of the milk and dairy industry," added Mr Davies.