The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ Meirionnydd branch had a very successful week at the Urdd Eisteddfod and its stand on the Maes (eisteddfod field) was a hive of activity.

Among the many visitors to the stand during the week was First Minister Carwyn Jones who is seen (second from right) with (from left) FUW Penllyn branch chairman Dylan Davies, county vice chairman Euros Puw and national president Emyr Jones.

“The First Minister’s visit was an opportunity to discuss current issues within the agricultural industry in Meirionnydd and the importance of being part of the European Union,” said FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones.

“The importance of agriculture to the rural economy was emphasised - how it sustains the Welsh language and culture and that the county was pleased to welcome the Eisteddfod.”

[caption id="attachment_2915" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Among the many visitors to the stand during the week was First Minister Carwyn Jones who is seen (second from right) with (from left) FUW Penllyn branch chairman Dylan Davies, county vice chairman Euros Puw and national president Emyr Jones[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales revealed today it has worked with local MP Glyn Davies to organise an event in the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday June 11 to highlight the "hidden gems" of Montgomeryshire.

Montgomeryshire Day will promote local businesses and producers and show MPs and their staff from across the UK what the area has to offer.

In addition to samples of delicious local meats, drink and cakes, many of the region’s picturesque tourism destinations will be showcased.

The companies exhibiting include Ifor’s Welsh Wagyu; Neuadd Fach Baconry; Berriew Cider; Doodlebakes; Monty’s Brewery; British Wool Marketing Board; Gregynog; and Montgomeryshire Spring Water.

Exhibitors and other guests, including nearly 40 FUW staff and members led by national president Emyr Jones, will be travelling to London for the event and they have been invited to a special reception in the House of Commons on the evening of June 10.

FUW county chairman Alwyn Vaughan said the union's Montgomeryshire branch was delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside Glyn Davies in order to show and promote the diverse nature of Montgomeryshire.

"The exhibition in Parliament will show many of the hidden gems of Montgomeryshire such as the landscape, businesses and tourism."

Mr Davies said: “Montgomeryshire Day will be an exciting and unique event that will promote some of Mid Wales’ finest local produce, and provide MPs with the chance to learn more about the area’s organisations and businesses.

“I am very pleased that many companies from Montgomeryshire will be joining us in Westminster in order to showcase their products and activities. I would also like to thank the FUW, who have been instrumental in putting this prestigious event together.

“Montgomeryshire Day will be a great chance to celebrate all things Montgomeryshire!”

A bid to resurrect the West Gwent branch of the Farmers' Union of Wales after a lapse of 12 years has proved to be a huge success.

Following a discussion at a recent FUW Gwent county executive meeting, invitations to a meeting at Llanhilleth Miners Institute were sent to all members in the area plus several other non-members in the hope they would attend and help re-establish the West Gwent branch.

Guests for the evening included FUW director of agricultural policy Nick Fenwick, Monmouthshire Livestock Centre auctioneer Mike Davies and local farmer and FUW member Howard Vicary.

The meeting, chaired by Gwent county chairman Chris Lewis, began with Dr Fenwick outlining the FUW’s recently-published 21 points in response to Welsh Government policies to improve farm efficiency and profitability.

Mr Davies gave an appraisal of how the new market at Raglan was working, indicating that it was proving to be a tremendous success with good support from buyers and vendors, and adding that they were looking to expand the number of days on which the market operated.

A question and answer session followed when many interesting topics were raised. FUW Gwent county executive officer Glyn Davies said: "Concern was expressed about the proposed EID Cymru and the regulations relating to the Glastir Commons and the Glastir Entry Scheme.

"In addition, members were keen to highlight the role played by farmers in preserving the rural landscape and environment in the Valley areas.

"It was particularly pleasing to note the number of young farmers present amongst the total of 38 who attended the meeting.

"It is hoped that a further meeting will be held in the autumn where a branch chairman and vice chairman can be elected with a view to holding three to four meetings per year and to raise the profile of the union further in the West Gwent area."

[caption id="attachment_2910" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SUCCESSFUL MEETING: From left, Chris Lewis, Nick Fenwick, Glyn Davies, Howard Vicary and Mike Davies[/caption]

Farmers have branded as "illogical, unobjective and unfair" the Welsh Government’s refusal to allow appeals against the incorrect categorisation of their land as moorland.

In January this year, natural and food minister Alun Davies announced that payments in the moorland area would fall to around 10% of the rates payable in areas outside the moorland area.

That moorland area is defined as land over 400m (1,312 feet) mapped as moorland in 1992 for the purpose of The Moorland Scheme.

Farmers' Union of Wales member John Yeomans, who farms with his wife Sarah near Adfa, Montgomeryshire, said: “On areas where my neighbours and I farm, that 1992 map was completely inaccurate, but we had no idea the mapping was taking place and there was certainly no offer of an appeal against the incorrect categorisation of our land.

"In any case, The Moorland Scheme was voluntary, and there was no suggestion that more than 20 years later the map would be used to cut our payments by 90%.”

Mr Yeomans described the minister’s decision not to allow appeals on objective grounds as "illogical, unobjective and unfair".

“If you took a seven-year-old child from the middle of London into our fields and asked them whether they thought it was moorland, they would give you a categorical ‘No’.

[caption id="attachment_2904" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Land farmed by John and Sarah Yeomans which has been categorised as ‘moorland’ by the Welsh Government[/caption]

"These areas are extremely productive improved areas of land, and no one in their right mind would describe them as moorland.

“By introducing the 400m line the Welsh Government has massively reduced the number of incorrectly mapped areas which would have led to appeals and legal challenges, so it makes no sense not to allow the remaining handful of areas like this to be eligible for appeals based upon objective criteria.”

Mr Yeomans’ comments come after the minister responded to correspondence from FUW president Emyr Jones highlighting the need for an objective appeals system.

Mr Jones’ letter stated: “During successive meetings …stakeholders emphasised the importance of having an objective definition of moorland and an appeals process to allow land to be removed from the map if it did not meet that definition – not least because the original moorland map is now almost a quarter of a century old, and was drawn up for a voluntary agri-environment scheme, not a compulsory area based payment scheme.

“We had been under the clear impression that this argument had been accepted, and are therefore concerned at recent suggestions by Welsh Government staff that grounds for appeals may be based upon administrative procedures rather than an objective definition of moorland.”

In his response, Mr Davies stated: “There will be two grounds for appeal. First of all, moorland for CAP payment purposes must have been mapped as having moorland vegetation when the 1992 moorland vegetation map was drawn.

"Secondly, if land appears on that map then it must now be at 400 metres or higher altitude. Thus the grounds will be clear cut and objective.”

Further correspondence from the Welsh Government has confirmed that even if an area was wrongly mapped as moorland in 1992 it is not eligible for appeal.

Mr Yeomans said: “Our land was wrongly mapped as having moorland vegetation in 1992 and is over 400 metres high, so it seems from what the minister and officials have said that there are no grounds for appeal.

“In fact, it seems that the only way of securing a successful appeal would be to prove that fields have sunk below the 400 metre land due to an earthquake or some other similar natural disaster.

[caption id="attachment_2905" align="alignnone" width="1024"] “If you took a seven-year-old child from the middle of London into our fields and asked them whether they thought it was moorland, they would give you a categorical ‘No’." - John Yeomans[/caption]

“This is ridiculous when you consider that since long before 1992 the vegetation on our land has comprised ryegrass and clover varieties, including many bred by Aberystwyth’s Plant Breeding Station.

"The land is not mapped as Open Access land under the CRoW Act, and was part of the Welsh Government’s demonstration farm network specifically because it was well managed grassland and not moorland.”

Mr Yeomans said he was discussing possible legal action with others affected by the minister’s decision.

[caption id="attachment_2906" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] "These areas are extremely productive improved areas of land, and no one in their right mind would describe them as moorland." - John Yeomans[/caption]

Welsh Government director general for sustainable futures Gareth Jones will be the guest speaker at the FUW's annual general meeting on Monday June 16 at 10am at the MedRus Conference Centre, Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth.

Mr Jones has been in his current post since March 2012 and his responsibilities span three departments: environment, agriculture and food (including energy policy and animal health and welfare); housing and regeneration; and culture and sport.

Coffee will be served from 9.15am until 9.45am when FUW president Emyr Jones will formally open the conference. Following a question and answer session with the guest speaker, the union’s internal, external and staff awards will be presented.

Plans are well under way for a range of activities on the Farmers' Union of Wales stand at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Bala next week (May 26-31).

This is one of Europe’s largest youth festivals and the FUW has booked a large three-unit stand for this popular annual event and throughout the week members and visitors to the Eisteddfod can call at the stand for tea or coffee and light refreshments.

The ladies sections of the union throughout Meirionnydd have kindly agreed to be part of all the arrangements and the county branch is very grateful for their assistance and cooperation, said FUW county executive officer Huw Jones.

"One of the week’s highlights for the FUW will undoubtedly be the crowing ceremony on Friday (May 30). All the funds required for the union's sponsorship of the crown was donated by the FUW’s ladies section in the Penllyn and Edeyrnion areas of Meirionnydd and the county branch is immensely grateful for this very generous donation," said Mr Jones.

The crown was made by Mari Eluned from Mallwyd, near Dinas Mawddwy, who graduated with a first class honours Degree in jewellery and silver smithing from Loughborough University in 2006 and has since set up her own business producing unique jewellery that combines Welsh slate with silver.

She will be attending the FUW stand on Monday (May 26) at 2pm and on Friday (May 31), following the crowning ceremony, to give a short presentation on the theme of this year’s crown inspired by the spring season.

One area of the union’s stand will be allocated throughout the week to children’s activities that will include competitions and colouring activities. There will also be a story telling session at 1 pm on Monday (May 26) by popular local novelist Haf Llywelyn, from Llanuwchllyn, and there will be a warm welcome for young families.

Another popular event for the Monday will be a visit by well known Welsh international ladies rugby player Elen Evans, of Dinas Mawddwy, whose parents are staunch FUW supporters. "We are very proud of her close association with the union," said Mr Jones.

"Undoubtedly, a popular attraction for the entire week will be an extensive display of old crafts, old kitchen utensils and farming bygones by Mr Aeryn Jones of Llangwm. He is well known for being skilful in hedge lying and dry stone walling and also published a book in June 2013.

"There will be an opportunity to purchase his book 'Aeryn Llangwm - Moch Bach mewn Basged Ddillad' on the stand. He is also a national winner in recital competitions."

A part of the union’s display on the stand will also include photographs of Meirionnydd FUW members by the renowned photographer Chris Clunn, of Maentwrog, who published a book on the subject in 2011 and there will be a further opportunity to purchase a copy during the week.

On Wednesday (May 28) PC Dewi Evans, of North Wales Police rural crime team, will be present on the stand to talk about his recent initiatives combating crime in rural areas and give advice on crime prevention.

He is one of three rural liaison officers appointed as a direct result of Police Commissioner Winston Roddick’s initiative to increase rural police presence.  Mr Roddick will also be attending the FUW stand on Friday (May 30).

On Thursday (May 29) former FUW area officer Elfed Roberts will give a cooking demonstration on the stand for visitors to be able to taste welsh lamb and welsh beef. He will also give a demonstration of cutting a Welsh lamb carcass which should attract a great deal of interest.

"There will be a display of yoghurt produced by well known brand - Llaeth y Llan of Llansannan - whose founders Gareth and Falmai Roberts have a close association with the FUW and have kindly sponsored the display once again," Mr Jones added.

"Hufenfa De Arfon of Chwilog have also kindly agreed to donate samples of their well known brand Dragon Cheeses.  There will be an opportunity to taste samples of both these products during the week.

"Members of the union’s presidential team and staff will be present on the stand throughout the week to give an update on the FUW’s work and policies. There will also be members of staff from FUW Insurance Services to provide information or answer queries."

[caption id="attachment_2895" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] CROWN HANDOVER: FUW’s Penllyn and Edeyrnion ladies section members (from left) Beryl Jones, Ann Edwards, Alwen Davies, crown maker Mari Eluned, and Olwen Davies present the crown to eisteddfod executive chairman Hedd Pugh watched by (far left) FUW president Emyr Jones and (far right) Huw Jones.[/caption]