Welsh farmers are calling for the planning powers of Wales' National Park authorities to be returned to the relevant county councils this year in a cost-cutting move.

The Farmers' Union of Wales debated the issue at their recent quarterly Grand Council meeting in Aberystwyth attended by delegates from counties throughout Wales.

A resolution from the union's Brecon and Radnor county branch, proposed by FUW life member and former deputy national president Glyn Powell, stressed that returning planning responsibilities to local councils would be a first step towards abolishing Wales’ three National Park authorities.

The resolution, which was overwhelmingly carried, pointed out that National Parks have "little economic development responsibilities and as such should not be delivering planning policies".

Delegates agreed that "with huge proposed cuts in public spending in Wales it is seen as a waste of taxpayers’ money to have three extra planning departments specifically for the three National Parks".

Referring to the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Mr Powell, of Sennybridge, near Brecon, told delegates: "People are always on my back about this subject and the bone of contention is the future of the National Park planning authorities, the unfairness of the current system and the inconsistencies of the activities of the Park with regard to planning.

"There are councillors on the authority but we don't choose them, the council does, and the Assembly chooses others. I don't think they understand the traditions of rural Wales.

"The Brecon Beacons National Park stretches over parts of seven counties. Common sense would tell you that it would be better if those counties took responsibility for their own planning responsibilities.

"The majority of people in Breconshire are not happy because they think they are represented by people who don't understand. The core of my argument is fairness.”

Farmers and rural businesses were warned today to be alert for any potential telephone calls requesting them to donate money to schemes allegedly "backed" by North Wales Police promoting safety for schoolchildren in the region.

Staff at the Farmers' Union of Wales Denbigh and Flint county office were told about one member who was contacted yesterday but when the caller refused to provide a name or telephone number he sensibly refused to donate any money.

Some £600,000 has been conned out of farmers in north-west England and Yorkshire recently in another apparent "scam" relating to telephone calls from companies stating the farmer’s bank details need verification and they need to contact their bank to do so.

"If the unsuspecting recipient of the call proceeds to contact their bank immediately afterwards, the 'scammers' are still on the line pretending to be their bank and are able to garner the bank details they require to siphon money from their accounts," said FUW Denbigh and Flint county executive officer Rhys Roberts.

The fraudster holds the line open to intercept the call, and then asks the victim to provide their internet log-in details, customer numbers, passwords or card reader codes to transfer the money into a different account. In reality, the fraudsters transfer the money into their own account.

"An FUW member in Denbighshire received a similar call this week but sensibly ignored it,” said Mr Roberts. “Anyone receiving these types of calls should simply ignore them and should not contact their bank to verify anything related to their account.

"Banks will always write to discuss their customers' business. If you are targeted, call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

THE farming community in Ceredigion has been chosen to pilot an NHS health project to raise awareness of bowel cancer and bowel screening.

Farmers, their families and employees are being encouraged to be aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and to take advantage of free bowel screening if they are aged 60 and above.

The awareness raising campaign is the result of a unique partnership between the Screening Division of Public Health Wales (PHW) and the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW).

The FUW has agreed to help raise awareness of the NHS bowel screening programme, as part of a pilot project with the Screening Engagement Department of PHW. If successful in Ceredigion, the project will be rolled out to other areas of Wales.

The pilot will include a bowel screening awareness presentation at the Ceredigion FUW County Meeting in Aberaeron on April 10. This meeting will also be open to family and farm employees who may wish to find out more about bowel cancer and bowel screening.

Following the meeting, every member of Ceredigion FUW will receive information about bowel screening with their next county newsletter. Information stands will also be held at a selection of agricultural marts and shows across the county.

Alison Clement, PHW screening engagement specialist, commented: “We are delighted to have the support of the FUW to raise awareness of bowel cancer and bowel screening, not only to the farmers themselves, but also to their families and employees.

“Bowel screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer and is offered every two years to men and women aged 60-74. A test kit is sent to peoples’ homes, without the need to travel to a hospital or GP surgery.

“Uptake of bowel screening fell in the early years of the programme, but is now rising. While this is very encouraging, there are still many people who could benefit from screening who are not taking advantage of the opportunity, when it is offered to them.”

She added: “Although bowel cancer is more common in older people, any age can be affected, so it is very important to be able to recognise the symptoms of bowel cancer, and how to reduce your risk.”

FUW president Emyr Jones said the union was keen to work with PHW to raise awareness of the importance of bowel testing and screening within the farming community.

"Barriers to accessing and prioritising healthcare do exist in the countryside,” he said. “These barriers include the isolation of farms; seasonal farming commitments during lambing and harvesting; poor support systems such as lack of family, neighbours or communities; farmers prioritising the health and welfare of livestock; and transport links in attending screening and other medical appointments.

"The aim of this partnership project should help encourage regular participation in the screening programme amongst farmers, their families, employees and the wider farming community.”

Mr Jones added: "Initially, the project will just concentrate on bowel screening but, if successful, a similar package may be rolled out for other health screening programmes, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, breast screening and cervical screening.”

[caption id="attachment_2103" align="aligncenter" width="200"] FUW president Emyr Jones is delighted that the union is working in partnership with Public Health Wales to raise awareness of the NHS bowel screening programme[/caption]

A lorry load of fodder donated by farmers in the Aberystwyth area has been sent to Somerset to feed livestock on a farm struck by the recent floods.

The load of silage was delivered from a collection point at Aberystwyth livestock market directly to a farm more than 160 miles away at Stoke St Gregory, near Taunton.

Donors Dafydd and Delyth Jones, of Brynceiro, Ponterwyd, also co-ordinated the deliveries from the other farmers including John Hughes, Pencwm, Penrhyncoch; Dafydd Jenkins, Tanrallt, Talybont; Glyn Rowlands, Creignant, Bontgoch; James Raw, Tyllwyd, Cwmystwyth; Emyr Davies, Llety Ifan Hen, Bontgoch; and Julian Fenwick, Llynlloedd, Machynlleth.

Cefin Evans, of Cwmwythig Farm adjoining the collection point at Lovesgrove, loaded the bales on to the lorry generously donated by D J Thomas a’i Feibion, of Lampeter, and driven by Richie Richards, of Aberaeron.

Farmers' Union of Wales Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones said: "We are working closely with the official co-ordinator for fodder in Somerset as the procedure has now changed. Instead of fodder going to Sedgemoor Market it is now being transported directly to the farms in need of fodder.

"We have also set up a special fund to collect donations to help pay for diesel and haulage costs. If anybody wishes to make a contribution, cheques can be made out to ‘Apêl FUW Somerset’ and sent to any FUW office.

"A total of five loads have gone to help farmers in Somerset from Ceredigion with another five loads currently being organised in south Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. All donations of fodder and money are greatly appreciated by us, and the farmers in Somerset struggling to feed their animals."

Another load from the Boncath area left this morning for a farm in Lanport and a load from Coedybryn, Llandysul, is due to be delivered tomorrow to a farm in Wells, with more loads going at the weekend.

That makes six loads of fodder weighing a total of 145 tons from West Wales that Mr Rees has arranged for delivery.

Farmers able to donate fodder and hauliers able to provide transport to make deliveries to Somerset can contact FUW's Ceredigion county chairman Aled Rees on 01239 810379 / 07968 386039 or via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

[caption id="attachment_2816" align="aligncenter" width="640"] COLLECTION POINT: Caryl Wyn-Jones (furthest left), Ieuan Evans (on the lorry), children Alun Eifion Wyn Roberts and Ynyr and Bedwyr Jenkins, farmers Dafydd Jenkins, Dafydd Jones and Aled Owen, and Cefin Evans (furthest right).[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2817" align="aligncenter" width="640"] LOADING FODDER: Ieuan Evans and Cefin Evans[/caption]

THE Farmers’ Union of Wales has called on natural resources and food minister Alun Davies to honour his commitment to make Welsh farms more efficient - by reducing regulatory burdens which add to costs and reduce profitability.

In a letter to the minister, FUW president Emyr Jones listed 21 changes to Welsh Government policies which should be implemented to improve farm efficiency and profitability. He also called for the changes to be included in a Farmers’ Charter of the kind issued in the Republic of Ireland.

The call comes after Mr Davies, in a Farmers Guardian article on March 14, accused the Welsh farming unions of lacking leadership, arguing for the “status quo” and “taking their cue from the loudmouth at the back of the room”.

He also claimed they were the biggest barrier to his vision of revolutionising Welsh agriculture through CAP reform and creating a more efficient industry which had shed its “dependency” on subsidy.

In a response published alongside Mr Davies' comments, FUW director of agricultural policy Nick Fenwick stated: “The FUW’s views are established by a democratic process, and when the minister says we have no leadership what he means is he would like our views to be dictated by a minority which shares his views.

“That is not going to happen: we will remain a democratic organisation and will continue to lobby, complement, criticise, or correct in line with our members’ views. We will not give in to bullying, and believe the industry would be better served if the minister respected a majority which holds different views to him.”

President Emyr Jones’ letter states: “I do not believe your comments published in Farmers Guardian regarding the farming unions merit any response from the FUW over and above what we have already said.

“However, control over many of the areas where savings could be made and profitability enhanced lies not with farm businesses, but with Government, and, given your public commitment to making Welsh farms more profitable. I believe there is now an opportunity for you to demonstrate that commitment by reducing those regulatory burdens.

“Moreover, far from arguing for the ‘status quo’, as you claim, the FUW has been vociferous over many years in calling for changes which are within the Welsh Government’s gift which would improve the efficiency of Welsh farm businesses.”

[caption id="attachment_2810" align="aligncenter" width="640"] FUW president Emyr Jones and natural resources and food minister Alun Davies[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2811" align="aligncenter" width="640"] FUW director of agricultural policy Nick Fenwick[/caption]

WE believe that the Welsh Government should honour its latest commitment to making Welsh farm businesses more efficient and profitable by:

• Introducing practical Quarantine Units over the coming 12 months, and ahead of any changes to the County Parish Holding (CPH) system and its associated rules, in order to allow farmers to better access markets and circumvent the six-day standstill rule without compromising animal health. This would avoid the problems inherent in the current proposals, which Gareth Williams’ Working Smarter report states “…would not be an acceptable solution”
• Reviewing the six-day standstill rule at the earliest possible opportunity, with a view to abolishing it, as has been proposed in England
• Ensuring changes to the CPH system and Sole Occupancy Authority (SOA) rules are accompanied by measures which reduce costs and bureaucracy for all farmers, including those relating to TB testing
• Ensuring that the introduction of EID Cymru and any associated changes to the rules on sheep tagging do not add to input costs for farmers, either through addition administration, tag costs, or risks of penalties due to technological failures
• Extending the hedge-cutting dates in Wales in order to address health and safety, Cross Compliance and economic impacts for Welsh farms
• Altering the relevant Welsh legislation in order to allow a general derogation to cut hedges outside the hedge-cutting dates where weather conditions have made accessing fields dangerous, impractical or illegal
• Reducing the significant burden associated with farm record-keeping, particularly those for the Glastir scheme, which far outweigh requirements under previous agri-environment schemes
• Reducing production costs for cattle farmers by abandoning pre-movement TB testing, as was done in 1996 in the Republic of Ireland which, since 2000, has experienced a 50% reduction in the number of TB reactors
• Reinstating the plans to remove badgers in the Intensive Action Area, in line with the view of the Bovine Tuberculosis Subgroup of the EU Task Force for Monitoring Animal Disease Eradication which concluded in 2012 that “The Welsh eradication plan will lose some impetus as badger culling will now be replaced with badger vaccination…There is no scientific evidence to demonstrate that badger vaccination will reduce the incidence of TB in cattle. However, there is considerable evidence to support the removal of badgers in order to improve the TB status of both badgers and cattle…UK politicians must accept their responsibility to their own farmers and taxpayers as well as to the rest of the EU and commit to a long-term strategy that is not dependent on elections”
• Ensuring all farmers are able to make maximum use of their pasture and that Environmental Impact Assessments are assessed proportionately and in a way which takes account of farm efficiency - particularly where land has degenerated due to participation in agri-environment schemes
• Increasing the period farmers have to report cattle movements from three to seven days, thereby bringing Wales in line with the EU requirement and reducing unfair penalties for farmers
• Ensuring that Cross Compliance and other requirements introduced under the post 2014 CAP regime are kept at the minimum level required by the EU, and that the penalty matrix ensures proportionality in all circumstances
• Securing changes to planning guidance which minimise restrictions on the ability of farms to secure succession, diversify, and make efficiency improvements
• Guaranteeing that all farmers have access to meaningful Rural Development funding which is guaranteed to improve the efficiency of their farm businesses
• Ensure that Glastir does not place undue restrictions on farm practices which reduce the efficiency of farms
• Recognising the essential role that grazing animals and hefted flocks play in terms of maintaining Wales’ environment, particularly in Wales’ uplands, and ensuring all Glastir grazing proscriptions are appropriate and reflect the need to feed displaced livestock during the winter months
• Ensuring that Wales’ primary producers are placed at the heart of the Welsh Government’s food and drink action plan.
• Focussing Rural Development funding on meaningful measures, such as grants, which guarantee improved efficiency and profitability, as opposed to those consultancy services regarded by the industry as wasteful and ineffective, with a balanced emphasis on Young Entrants
• Ensuring that, within the context of the Access Green Paper, any presumption towards a statutory increase in unfettered access to farm land or water bodies is not adopted, due to the severe implications for farms and rural businesses in Wales
• Ensuring that Wales’ Rural Development Plan delivers improved incomes for farmers which place them on an even playing field with those competitors in regions which will receive higher levels of funding from CAP measures, with a view to making necessary changes at the earliest possible opportunity should it be shown that current plans are having a detrimental impact on Welsh production and farm incomes
• Fully implementing the recommendations contained in the Upland Forum’s 2012 Unlocking the Potential of the Uplands report
• Establish a Farmers’ Charter which provides commitments to the industry in relation to all the above, and all other areas where the Welsh Government can assist farmers in making their businesses more efficient and profitable.