The Farmers’ Union of Wales has given a cautious welcome to the Welsh Government’s announcement on Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) in Wales.  

The announcement comes following a four year review of the existing NVZ areas in Wales, as required in the EC Nitrates Directive.

Responding to the announcement FUW President Glyn Roberts, said: “This seems to be a far more proportionate way forward than some of the options that had been proposed, but we need time to assess the details and their implications.”

In a Cabinet Statement issued earlier today (December 13), Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Over coming months I will work with stakeholders to get the right balance of regulatory measures, voluntary initiatives and investment.

Denbighshire beef and sheep farmer Rheinallt Hughes, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ Hill Farming and Marginal Land Committee.

Rheinallt, together with his family, farms approximately 980 acres at Tu Hwnt i’r Afon, Llanarmon DC, Croesoswallt, of which 240 acres are owned and 720 acres rented. 400 acres are in SSSI (moorland) and they are in Glastir and Glastir Advanced.

The family have a flock of 300 Welsh Mule Ewes which are put to Beltex and Texel rams and also have a flock of 1300 Welsh Mountain Ewes, of which 600 are put to Welsh Mountain rams to breed replacements and 700 to Bluefaced Leicester rams to breed mule replacements.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is reminding members of the upcoming changes to the Farm Business Grants (FBG) application process, which is transferring to Rural Payments Wales Online for the third, and any future rounds of the scheme.  

The third application window, which opens on 29 January 2018, will see some changes to the application criteria, including businesses now being allowed to make multiple applications up to the maximum grant level of £12,000, subject to funding being available.

The scheme can provide a one-off grant of between £3,000 and £12,000, allowing farmers to to invest in around 70 items linked to animal health; genetics and performance; crop management; energy efficiency; resource efficiency and ICT.

In light of the announced NatWest bank closures in Ceredigion, affecting the Lampeter and Cardigan branches, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is holding open meetings with Plaid Cymru to discuss a way forward with local MP Ben Lake and AM Elin Jones.

The meetings will take place on Thursday, December 21 at Lampeter Rugby Club and Thursday, January 18 at the Guildhall, Cardigan. Both meetings will commence at 7.30pm and are open to all.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, that TB eradication targets for Wales as a whole and interim targets for each TB region have now been established.  If achieved, these targets would see Wales become officially TB free between 2036 and 2041.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer said: “Other countries, such as New Zealand, Ireland and England have established bovine TB eradication programmes which set target dates for being TB free and the FUW has consistently highlighted this over the past year.

Farmers are today being reminded of the December deadline for Glastir capital works - and to request a derogation if they are struggling to complete their works because of bad weather.

FUW Policy Officer Charlotte Priddy said: “All 2016 and 2017 Capital Works have got to be completed by the December 31, and claimed no later than the February 28, via RPW online.