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.

Glamorgan beef and sheep farmer Rachel Edwards-Walker, who farms in partnership with her husband Richard Walker, at Flaxland farm, a 120 acre holding just outside of Barry, Glamorgan, has been elected as the Farmers’ Union of Wales education and training committee chair.

To ensure the viability and sustainability of their farming business both Richard and Rachel work off farm. Rachel is a mobility scorer and a milk recorder which gives her extra insight into the dairy industry and the challenges faced across sectors.

Speaking about her appointment as the Union’s training and education committee chair, Rachel said:

“As part of my new role within FUW I want to ensure members know about the training opportunities available to them and how they can benefit them in running their farming businesses.

“In addition to this I also hope to extend our schools outreach programme, which we have trialled very successfully here in Glamorgan. Helping our children learn about food and food production is something I’m as passionate about as helping our members learn about training and development opportunities.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to also thank the previous chair, Anwen Hughes, for everything she has done in this capacity. I wish her all the success in her new role as FUW regional vice president.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has responded to a Welsh Government consultation on reviewing Wales’ renewable energy targets, acknowledging the need to set targets which go beyond 2030.

FUW Senior Policy and Communications Officer Gareth Parry said:

“On-farm renewable energy production has been high on the FUW’s agenda for decades. However, the importance of such has been brought into sharp focus over recent years as the UK faces an energy crisis. Farms continue to seek ways in which they can diversify and the focus on reaching net zero is increasing.”

The abolition of Feed in Tariffs and the Welsh Government business rates relief scheme for privately owned hydropower projects has led to a significant slowdown in on-farm investment into renewable energy sources, weakening the environmental benefits associated with private initiatives and diminishing the momentum of reaching the ‘70% of Wales’ electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030’ target.

“Action is required now more than ever to tackle the UK’s energy shortages and to secure future energy production. We have previously written to Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, urging her to work with colleagues in other administrations to ensure that all possible actions are undertaken to further increase renewable energy production in Wales and the UK without compromising agricultural production,” he said.

The FUW therefore welcomed the Welsh Government’s ambition to set a target for at least 1.5GW of renewable energy capacity to be locally owned by 2035 and its acknowledgement that the uptake of small-scale renewable energy technologies could be a key contributor to meeting this target.

“Pathways to reaching such targets must include urgent action at all levels of government. This must include the introduction of new incentives for farmers to invest into small-scale renewable energy projects on their land and buildings, as well as the removal of barriers to such developments, if the required fivefold increase in the generation of electricity in Wales between now and 2050 is to be achieved,” Mr Parry added.

Exactly one year since their first visit, Farmers’ Union of Wales Gwent county chairman Wayne Langford has welcomed Plaid Cymru Senedd Members for South Wales East, Delyth Jewell and Peredur Owen Griffiths, back to his lambing shed to discuss the most critical farming matters.

Whilst keeping an eye on Wayne’s Welsh Mountain ewes and lambs, conversation quickly turned to the pressure of rising input costs. Since the Senedd Members last visited Wayne at Penrhyn in Trefil, ‘Agflation’ hit highs of 26% over the summer, and although it is now declining, the pressure of increased input costs remains a concern.

Tight profit margins are even more concerning given the uncertainty surrounding the future of farm support schemes in Wales. The FUW has repeatedly voiced concerns over the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme and in particular the ability for tenants, new entrants, and commoners to access the scheme.

Wayne, who grazes livestock on Llangynidr common explained: “There are so many benefits to my cattle grazing on the common. Not only do we manage the landscape but there are biodiversity gains too, for instance we’ve seen the return of curlews. The future scheme needs to support farmers to continue this on common land.”

FUW Regional Vice President, Brian Bowen added: “The Agriculture (Wales) Bill and Sustainable Farming Scheme will be key in keeping farming families in Wales producing food. I often hear that farmers aren’t sure if they have a future in the industry. It’s important that all farms are eligible to enter the SFS, and that it is economically viable to do so. Without that, we won’t achieve the environmental aims of the Bill and the Scheme.”

The Senedd members also heard how vitally important it is to have a prosperous and thriving industry which encourages new entrants to the sector. This has been a key message from the FUW in the SFS co-design and in the scrutiny process of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, which is currently making its way through the Senedd.

Wayne added: “Without placing emphasis on the economic viability of the industry, how can we expect young people to have aspirations in farming? Once again, this brings us back to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill and the SFS offering a future of thriving family farms, and I’m genuinely worried about the consequences if we don’t achieve that.”

Anglesey dairy farmer and long serving vice President of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, Eifion Huws, has been made a life member of the FUW.

Mr Huws was awarded life member status at a meeting of the Council of the Union which was held in Aberystwyth on Wednesday 29 March.

Eifion Huws farms at Penrhos, Bodedern, a dairy farm which previously kept a herd of pedigree Ayrshire. The dairy herd had an outstanding production and show record, and Eifion is a long established and highly respected Ayrshire cattle judge.

He has been an active Member of the Union’s central Finance and Organisation Committee and was Chairman of the Union’s Milk and Dairy Produce Committee between 2004 and 2011. Eifion has also represented the FUW on the national Dairy UK Farmers’ Forum.

During his long standing service to the Union, Eifion has travelled the length and breadth of the country, and often to Cardiff, London and Europe to represent the dairy industry and the views of the FUW whilst attempting to ensure better support and prices for farmers.

He was awarded the 2011/2012 FUW internal award for services to the Union and the agricultural industry in Wales and he was also selected as the winner of the FUW/HSBC Bank award for outstanding contribution to the Welsh dairy industry.

Eifion’s wealth of knowledge within the industry is second to none. His energy, enthusiasm and passion for the dairy industry knows no bounds and his renowned ability to support his fellow farmers is priceless.

Speaking about Mr Huws’s election to life member, FUW President Glyn Roberts said:

“Eifion has been a long serving, loyal stalwart of the Union. Every time I needed Eifion to deputise for me on Union business he has always risen to the occasion. His commitment, tenacity and unwavering passion for the dairy industry and farming in Wales is an inspiration and this honour is very well deserved. He follows in his fathers footsteps as a life member.”