The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the launch of the ‘Gwaredu Scab’ project, which aims to combat sheep scab outbreaks across Wales by offering funding to diagnose and treat infected sheep.

Gwaredu Scab is funded by the Welsh Government, with £1.5 million committed each year for a minimum of two years.  The project, which is led by Coleg Sir Gâr, offers a completely free service from diagnosis through to whole flock treatment.

 FUW Deputy Head of Policy Dr Hazel Wright, said: ‘We have eagerly awaited the launch of the Gwaredu Scab project ever since funding for such a project was announced by the Minister for Rural Affairs in January 2019.

The Agriculture Research Centre at the Coleg Sir Gar Gelli Aur Campus hosted a visit for delegates of the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ eleven Standing Committees to demonstrate some of the innovative projects on slurry management.

FUW committee delegates, officials and staff heard from John Owen, Project Manager at the ARC, about two key projects - the Tywi Farm Nutrient Partnership and the Tywydd Tywi Weather App - before seeing how both initiatives work in practice on the farm to manage slurry in an effective way.

Speaking after the visit FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman said: “The Water Resources Regulations will impact every farm business across Wales to some extent. With the introduction of the second stage of requirements in January, it was a more appropriate time than ever to organise this visit in coordination with the ARC to help us understand some of the alternative measures and technological solutions that are being developed in terms of slurry management.

“The FUW has always supported this excellent work and the development of potential alternatives to the current regulations, and it was great to see so many of our Standing Committee delegates attend the visit in person after a difficult few years of virtual meetings.”

The Tywydd Tywi Weather App works using weather stations which collect various soil and plant characteristics to allow farmers to make informed decisions on nutrient management and pesticide applications based on a traffic light system, whilst the Tywi Farm Nutrient Partnership focuses primarily on the potential recirculation of on-farm nutrients.

FUW Policy Officer Elin Jenkins added: “These projects demonstrate how technology has moved on since the EU NVZ regulations were introduced under the 1991 EU Nitrates Directive - on which the Water Resources Regulations are primarily based. We truly hope the Welsh Government recognises the potential technological solutions have in helping to address water pollution, and the regulations must be reviewed to allow for that flexibility."

“We would like to thank the ARC team at Gelli Aur for the warm welcome the FUW received and for the opportunity to witness this innovative work,” Mr Rickman added.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths, that the implementation of the 170kg nitrogen per hectare whole farm limit will be further extended from 30 April to 31 October 2023.

Regulation 4 of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021, which sets an annual whole farm nitrogen limit from organic manure of 170kg per hectare, was initially delayed from 1 January to allow the Welsh Government time to consult on proposals for a licensing scheme to increase that limit.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “In our response, we urged the Welsh Government to use this opportunity to introduce an effective licensing scheme as a permanent part of the regulations on the basis that it is designed correctly to allow for a significant number of farms to be eligible and for it to be flexible to respond to challenges in the long term.

“It is therefore welcome to see that the whole farm nitrogen limit will be delayed by a further six months to allow more time for the Welsh Government to seriously consider the responses and provide sufficient time for farmers to prepare once the outcome is announced.”

While the introduction of a licensing scheme would serve as a significant safety net for some, the FUW continues to draw attention to the unintended consequences this limit alone will have on the ability of Welsh farmers to maintain food production levels and the impact of the regulations in general.

“We sincerely hope this six month extension will allow the Welsh Government to fully understand the repercussions this limit will place on farming businesses and the Welsh agricultural industry, and allow them to seize this opportunity to introduce a scheme that helps to address our concerns.

“The need for this second extension simply demonstrates the complexity of the regulations we are dealing with, and as such, we strongly urge the Welsh Government to delay the regulations set to be introduced next year until alternative technological solutions are considered and the regulations reviewed,” Mr Roberts added.

Farmers’ Union of Wales officials have discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the wool industry with representatives from British Wool at their grading depot in Newtown.

Speaking after the visit, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We had a constructive meeting with British Wool which allowed us to discuss how local, national and global influences have an impact on commodity markets and subsequently on our members.”

During the pandemic, the reduced demand for wool from China meant that UK producers received average balance payments of 17 pence per kg for the 2019 clip, some 70% less than the payments received in the previous year.

“While global wool prices have recovered to a point, the cost of wool scouring alone has increased by 30% over the past 12 months. This, along with cost of living pressures on consumers, will likely be reflected by the prices British Wool will be able to pay farmers for last year's clip.

“However, we heard how British Wool continues to engage with its producers, improve efficiencies and work with end brands to provide the best possible returns. We have a role to play in promoting this excellent natural fibre and lobbying the Welsh Government to include Welsh wool in its procurement policies,” said the Union President.

The outcome of the recent Defra review into the current model of British Wool also means that amendments to the 1950 order can be brought forward with the hope that becoming an independent body in future will allow them to make the most of existing markets and respond more effectively to commercial challenges.

“I would like to thank British Wool for their warm welcome to the Newtown depot and for the constructive discussions around the future of British Wool and how we can actively promote this important fibre,” added Mr Roberts.