The Farmers’ Union of Wales today welcomed the granting of Royal Assent to the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014.

The Act will provide consistent legal powers across Wales, giving local authorities the power to seize, impound, return to the owner, sell, re-home or, as a last resort, euthanize horses by humane means when they are on land without lawful consent.

Welcoming the Act, FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said that over  recent years the number of  fly grazing incidents  have increased substantially, particularly in South Wales  where large numbers of horses  have been dumped on private and public land, resulting in major welfare problems for animals of little value and significant implications for  public safety when straying onto public highways on the farming sector as well as the resource implications for local authorities, equine charities and the tax payer.

“Earlier last year the FUW contributed to the Welsh Government consultation which looked at the actions and legislative changes that might be needed to deliver a long term solution to tackle the issue of fly grazing and the abandonment of horses and ponies in Wales and worked with Welsh Government to come up with ideas which have now been incorporated into the new Act,” Mr Williams added.

A recent bingo evening organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales Carmarthenshire county branch at The Talardd Inn, Llanllwni, to raise funds for the union president's charities T? Hafan a T? Gobaith was a big success, raising £380.

"We are delighted with the response from the local communities who were extremely generous in their support and contributions," said county executive officer David Waters.

[caption id="attachment_2736" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] - HOUSE: From left, bingo caller and FUW Ceredigion member Adrian Colbourne, FUW Carmarthenshire member Gwenda Davies who helped organise the event and FUW North Carmarthenshire area officer Gwion James[/caption]

The first in a series of Farmers' Union of Wales farmhouse breakfast functions to celebrate the annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week was kick-started yesterday (Monday January 27) by the union's Meirionnydd branch at Parc, near Bala.

The well-attended event at a disused school now being used as a village hall also raised £650 towards union president Emyr Jones’ charities Ty Hafan and Ty Gobaith.

Mr Jones said: “I am extremely grateful to everyone who came to support the breakfast and I would like to thank Olwen and Nia Davies for being great hosts.

“We have started Farmhouse Breakfast Week extremely well and raised a good amount of money for the charities. I hope all the other breakfast functions across Wales go just as well as this one."

FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones thanked the event's sponsors - local butchers T J Roberts & Sons and Cigydd y Bala; Wyau Berwyn Cyf, Blaengwnodl Isaf, Cynwyd; Booker Cash & Carry, Rhostyllen; Blodau Rhianfa, Bala; Co op Store, Bala; and Spar, Bala - for their support.

He said he's now looking forward to the branch's next farmhouse breakfast on Friday January 31 (at 8am and 11.30am) at Mr and Mrs R J Breese's farm, Gogarth, Pennal, which local AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas is expected to attend.

[caption id="attachment_2733" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Olwen and Nia Davies, Ty Cerrig with FUW staff and helpers[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is today reminding further education students of the entry deadline for its student bursary worth a total of £1,500.

The union is once again offering a bursary aimed specifically at further education students with an award of £1,000 to the winner and £500 to the runner-up.

The bursary follows last year’s format with applications being requested before the April 7 closing date. The bursary is specifically aimed at assisting college students studying an agriculture or land-based subject.

FUW agricultural education and training committee chairman Alun Edwards, who is keen to attract more applications from further education students, said: “Applications for the further education bursary are now open and it is centred on the practical nature of the courses being studied.

“By making these changes last year we hope to attract a greater number of applications and we look forward to receiving this year’s entries.”

It is a condition of the award that short-listed candidates attend an interview to discuss their submission during the period leading up to the 2014 Royal Welsh Spring Festival on Saturday May 17 when the successful candidates will be announced and presentation of the bursary cheques made.

To apply for the bursary, applicants must complete the application form and either write an essay of a maximum of 1,500 words on one of the following subjects:

• How I will utilise the skills I’ve learnt at College in my future career.
• What is your favourite course at College and why?
• Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Or, applicants can use one of the following options to showcase a project they have been working on, either as part of their course, in the workplace, or at home.

• Written diary report
• Photo documentary
• Video diary

Applications can be submitted via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (file size must not exceed 10MB). Attached files up to a maximum of 25MB can be submitted to either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Students may also submit electronic copies on disk format. All projects need to be submitted in Microsoft accessible format.

An ideal opportunity for farmers to discuss the future of their industry in the short and medium term following the recent announcement on direct payments under CAP reform will be provided at the Farmers' Union of Wales' Meirionnydd county branch's annual general meeting on Friday evening January 31 at 7.30pm.

The meeting will be held at Ty Siamas, Dolgellau, and FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones today appealed for a strong representation of members from all parts of the county.

The guests speakers will be Anglesey AM Rhun ap Iorwerth; prominent FUW member Aled Evans, of Dolymaen, Y Foel, near Welshpool; and FUW director of agricultural policy Nick Fenwick. Mr Jones will also deliver a presentation on branch activities during 2013.

Further details about the event can be obtained by contacting the FUW County Office on 01341 422298 or by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

New farm income figures were a strong reminder of the major fears Welsh farmers have for the future, Farmers' Union of Wales president Emyr Jones said today.

"The union is concerned but not really surprised at the 30% cut in farm income figures released today, and the fact that there has been a significant drop across all sectors is a particular worry.

"The extraordinary weather last year coupled with the withdrawal of the Tir Mynydd Scheme had a devastating effect on the incomes of many farms which could not have been foreseen by any ‘resilience’ measures.

"The wet summer of 2012, coupled with the late freeze and major snowfall in the spring of 2013, meant that even the most efficient of farms faced unprecedented costs for which no resilience measures could have coped with.

"Whether it was loss of livestock or having to buy in fodder and feed, many farmers are still feeling the financial effects of the weather and this is likely to be a longer term issue for the industry in Wales.

"The union raised its concern at Natural Resources and Food Minister Alun Davies' recent announcement that he would top slice farm payments by the EU maximum of 15% and this, coupled with cuts to the overall CAP budgets, will mean that farmers are set to lose up to 23% of their CAP payments in 2014, which is extremely worrying as businesses that have seen significant cuts in their incomes will find it even harder to compete during 2014.

"The Welsh Government is due to consult on its Rural Development Plan in the next few weeks and it will be vital to ensure that the 15% top sliced from farmers attracts additional match funding to ensure that the amount made available to Welsh farmers is worth more than they will lose through top slicing and the inevitable administration costs of pillar transfers."