The Farmers’ Union of Wales has called on the Welsh Government to introduce emergency aid and a derogation to allow fallen stock burial in recognition of the severe hardships and livestock losses caused to farmers by the weather conditions.

Farmers already struggling to cope with the impact of one of the wettest years in history and a massive fall in incomes have reported high ewe and lamb loses, massive pressures on livestock housing, collapsed or unstable buildings and severe shortages of grass and fodder.

FUW president Emyr Jones, who farms near Bala in North Wales, said the weather was the worst for the time of year he had ever seen.

“With the lambing season getting into full swing and fodder and grass shortages already hitting us hard, the freak snowstorms and bitterly cold weather could not have come at a worse time,” said Mr Jones.

“Normally at this time of year we would be turning ewes and lambs out into green fields and clement weather.

“Farmers in many areas have their backs to the wall, and I dread to think what will be revealed when the snow melts. In many areas every building is being used to house livestock, and animals which have to be turned out are going out onto deep snow and arctic conditions.

“The ewe and lamb losses are heart breaking, and the lack of hill support payments this year for the first time in sixty years or so could not have come at a worse time,” added Mr Jones.

In a letter to Natural Resources and Food Minister Alun Davies, Mr Jones states: “…such adversities will exacerbate problems caused by the 41% fall in net farm incomes predicted for the 2012-2013 financial year. This is particularly the case for those in the Severely Disadvantages Areas worst hit by the snow, where net farm incomes are already forecast to be down by 60% to £10,000.

“The beginning of April is also the time when tack animals return home, and many farmers are extremely concerned about how they will be able to cope with these animals, particularly in those areas still covered in snow.

“In light of the above, I would urge you to reconsider the Union’s request for a winter feed hardship fund as a matter of urgency.”

The letter also emphasises the significant livestock losses being experienced on farms, and the likelihood that numbers will grow as those animals it has not been possible to find and rescue are revealed by the retreating snow.

“We have a ridiculous situation whereby it is illegal under EU Regulations to bury animals, and have to pay for them to be removed and disposed of,” said Mr Jones.

“However, a derogation is available in exceptional circumstances, and we desperately need this to be applied.”

Mr Jones’ letter states: “It is also imperative that a derogation be introduced to allow farmers to bury fallen stock. If this does not take place, the challenges of collecting large numbers of fallen stock from farms, coupled with the high costs of fallen stock collection, will result in more pressures on the farming industry, and may represent a significant disease risk as the weather warms up.”

The FUW has requested a meeting with the Minister to discuss the severe impact of the weather on farmers across Wales.

Well over £2,000 has been raised by the Farmers' Union of Wales Pembrokeshire branch for the union president's chosen charity - Cancer Research Wales.

President Emyr Jones was presented by county chairman John Savins with a cheque for £2,152.85 consisting of £1,244.71 from the sale of FUW Pembrokeshire calendars, £500 match funding from Lloyds TSB Foundation and £408.14 raised through donations and a raffle.

Following the presentation at a recent county executive committee meeting the branch received a further £21.14 in donations.

Mr Savins offered special thanks to Lloyds TSB's Haverfordwest-based agricultural business manager Anne Callan who helped with the production and sale of the calendar and arranged the match funding.

He also thanked all the local businesses that sponsored the calendar and Pembrokeshire organic milk producers Trioni Ltd for sponsoring the competition for children aged between four and 18 who submitted photographs - depicting Farm Life, The Countryside or Wildlife within the county - from which the images for the calendar were selected.

"The competition was a roaring success, attracting hundreds of entries from across Pembrokeshire," Mr Savins added.

"It ensured that we as farmers maintain a strong link with young people so that they understand the way food is produced in this country."

[caption id="attachment_2350" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (from left) John Savins, Anne Callan and Emyr Jones[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales Glamorgan branch members recently enjoyed a visit to JCB's world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, to experience the company's excavator production line first hand.

FUW Glamorgan county executive officer Rachel Saunders said:

“Many of our members were extremely interested in attending this visit as JCB are such a well-known and respected producer of agricultural machinery.

“Before the tour commenced, members and their family and friends enjoyed a film detailing the full extent of the worldwide production that JCB carries out as well as the huge range of machinery produced.

"After this, we were shown around a museum detailing the JCB history which started out as a small agricultural company, set up by Joseph Cyril Bamford, building tipping trailers leading through the decades to the global company that JCB is today.

“The trip was completed with a tour around the factory production floor and members found it fascinating to witness the JCB excavator being made from start to finish. I would like to thank Glamorgan members for their support and company on this excursion which will hopefully be the first of many similar events.”

[caption id="attachment_2346" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Farmers’ Union of Wales Glamorgan branch members recently enjoyed a visit to JCB's world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire[/caption]

Two "Welly Walks" aimed at encouraging children to explore the outdoors in all weathers and learn about their surrounding nature and wildlife have been organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales Anglesey county branch and the island's Welsh language promotional organisation Menter Iaith Môn.

The first walk will take place at the Dingle, Nant Y Pandy Nature Reserve, on Saturday April 27 at 10am. Anglesey County Council has agreed to provide free car parking in the Dingle Car Park from 9.30 until 11.30 that day.

The second walk takes place on May 29 at 1.30pm at the outstanding location of Llanddwyn Island where film actress Demi Moore shot scenes for the film “Halflight”.

FUW's Anglesey county executive officer Heidi Williams said:

“It is our intention to encourage the children of the community out into the open air whilst learning about their surroundings.

"As a child I always remember that my siblings and I were hardly ever in the house. We were out and about walking the fields, sitting under trees, picking flowers, bird spotting and collecting kindle. We have so many happy childhood memories.”

Children taking part in the Welly Walks must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and will be guided by the warden in each area - Gareth Evans for Llangefni and Graham Williams in Llanddwyn.  Children will be taught the different Welsh names for the various trees, birds and plants.

The events have received excellent support from different agencies and the FUW and Menter Iaith Môn are particularly grateful to the Forestry Commission for agreeing free entry to all adults and children to Llanddwyn Island for which there is normally a £30 fee.

Forestry Commission forest education officer Catrin Owen said:

“Woodlands are an outstanding learning resource and give children the opportunity to be close to nature in a technology free zone.

“There are many associated physical and mental benefits to being active in an outdoor environment and using woodlands for learning can contribute to children’s' health and wellbeing.”

Both Welly Walks will finish with refreshments provided free of charge by the FUW.

The Farmers' Union of Wales Gwent and Glamorgan branches have made a donation of well over £1,000 to a Cardiff cancer hospital.

A cheque for £1,120 was presented to Velindre Cancer Centre head of fundraising Andrew Morris at a recent coffee morning following the success of a wooden horse charity race night hosted by FUW vice president Lorraine Howells at Cwm Carno Farm, near Tredegar, in September last year.

"We received such fantastic support from FUW members, as well as members of the community, in raising over £4,000 and we decided to present part of the total amount to a hugely worthwhile and local cause," said Miss Howells.

"We would like to thank all those people involved with organising the evening including local members and businesses that donated food and provided sponsorship.

“The evening would not have worked as well without the tremendous support of Joyce Matthews and Cheryl Evans who prepared the supper meals."

[caption id="attachment_2341" align="aligncenter" width="640"] From left, FUW Glamorgan county executive officer Rachel Saunders, Andrew Morris, Lorraine Howells, FUW Glamorgan administrative assistant Christine Anstee and FUW Glamorgan county president John Llewellyn[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales today backed the National Sheep Association's (NSA) call for the immediate removal of images of a lamb chop placed in the bottom of a urinal shown in a new Food Standards Agency awareness campaign.

"The campaign encourages consumers to look for the food hygiene rating of restaurants and food outlets but, like the NSA, we are appalled that lamb has been singled out to portray such a negative and extreme message," said FUW president Emyr Jones.

“It is plain idiocy that the repercussions of such an advertisement were not spotted by the FSA. It’s little wonder that criminals were able to pass off horse meat as beef under the FSA’s noses if they were too busy dreaming up inflammatory and misleading messages like this.”

The union has contacted the FSA demanding that they remove the images from all public places with immediate effect.

“If premises have standards of hygiene which are akin to food being served in urinals then the FSA should deal with them,” added Mr Jones.

“Launching a publically-funded campaign like this and associating a top quality product with standards of hygiene which should result in premises being closed down is absolute madness and a disgrace.”