We've got a great programme of events at The Royal Welsh Show this year, do come and join us:

[caption id="attachment_6580" align="alignleft" width="300"] Starting their 177 mile journey are Emyr Wyn Davies (left) and Huw Jones (right) at Prestatyn[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales County Executive Officer’s Emyr Wyn Davies and Huw Jones are blazing a trail along the 177 mile long Offa’s Dyke Path in a bid to raise funds for the FUW President’s charity British Heart Foundation Cymru.

Having started their journey on Friday June 17 in Prestatyn, the enthusiastic duo have so far completed 52 miles of the 8th Century National Trail.

The trail, was opened in the summer of 1971, linking Sedbury Cliffs near Chepstow on the banks of the Severn estuary with the coastal town of Prestatyn on the shores of the Irish sea.

It passes through no less than eight different counties and crosses the border between England and Wales over 20 times.

The Offa’s Dyke trail explores the tranquil Marches,as the border region is known, and passes through the Brecon Beacons National Park on the spectacular Hatterrall Ridge.

In addition it links no less than three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Wye Valley, the Shropshire Hills and the Clwydian Range / Dee Valley.

The first four days of their challenge had them walking from Prestatyn to Rhuallt, Rhuallt to Bodfari to Clwyd Gate, onto Trevor - Llangollen and then onto the Racecourse Common at Oswestry.

Speaking about the challenge, FUW Meirionnydd County Executive Officer Huw Jones said: “I am very keen to support the charity, and this is a task that I had wanted to do for some time. Now the opportunity has come to combine the both and I must say that it is an extremely interesting walk.

“We have met many people along the way and I love learning about the local history and enjoy the spectacular views. The path frequently follows the impressive Offa’s Dyke itself.

“This amazing hand-dug bank and ditch was built in the 8th century by command of King Offa of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.

“It was probably intended to divide Mercia from rival kingdoms in what is now Wales, and some sections still form the England/Wales border today.

“I would like to thank those who have helped us along the way so far and I now look forward to completing the rest of the path and joining our friends at the National Eisteddfod.”

[caption id="attachment_6583" align="alignleft" width="300"] Emyr is excited to join the fight against heart disease[/caption]

But as with all challenges of this scale, every team needs support. Providing just that was John Price of Clawddnewydd, Ruthin, who helped Huw and Emyr with transporting their bags on the first leg of their challenge.

[caption id="attachment_6581" align="alignright" width="169"] Emyr and Huw were joined by FUW Dolgellau office Admin assistant Ffion Edwards and FWAG Cymru’s Glenda Thomas for a stretch of the walk[/caption]

“Raising money for the British Heart Foundation in my opinion is for a very good cause. I received surgery in April 2011 after being diagnosed by a locum doctor in September 2010 with a leaking aortic heart valve,” explains John Price, whose wife Alwena works part time in the FUW’s Ruthin office.

The results of the ECG test revealed that he had a tricuspid Aortic Valve and it was established that this was a hereditary problem.

“My father suffered the same problem and had an operation in the early 1980’s and in April 2011 I underwent the 8 hour operation to replace my aortic valve, repair to the heart wall and repair to the root of the valve at Broadgreen Hospital Liverpool.

“All the money raised by the British Heart Foundation for new research will benefit many people in the future as everyone has been affected by heart problems be it family or friends.

“I cannot praise the British Heart Foundation enough as it has given me a new lease of life and I wish Emyr and Huw all the very best of luck and stamina to complete this fantastic challenge,” he added.

Emyr and Huw are tackling the remaining 125 miles on Monday July 25, when they will re-start their walk from Llanymynech to Forden.

Hoping to finish at Sedbury Cliffs on Sunday July 31, they will walk via Knighton, Hay on Wye, Pandy and Monmouth.

“I fancied a challenge,” says Emyr Wyn Davies, who joined the FUW as the County Executive Officer for Montgomeryshire last year.

“The Clwydian Range section has been the most intense so far but it is for such a great cause that all the sweat is well worth it.”

“Did you know that if you walk entire route from south to north there is about 28,000ft of ascent, which is the same as the height of Everest?,” Emyr laughs.

“I am really excited to join in the fight against heart disease and hope that we will not just raise money for BHF Cymru but also raise awareness of how much of a problem heart disease is across Wales and the whole of the UK.”

[caption id="attachment_6582" align="alignleft" width="300"] Up another hill - the group tackling the Clwydian Range[/caption]

Following in the footsteps of Emyr and Huw will be FUW Caernarfon County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin and a team of fellow fundraisers, who are starting their walk at the end of July.

FUW President Glyn Roberts is also throwing his enthusiasm and support behind the challenge, saying: “I must thank our staff and friends of the Union for their continued support in our fundraising efforts - we could not raise as much money for our charitable causes without your dedication and tenacity.

“I am pleased to say that Huw and Emyr have already raised over £500 with this walk - so if anybody still wants to sponsor them, please contact our head office on 01970 820820 or the respective FUW county offices - Newtown on 01686 626889 and Dolgellau on 01341 422298.

“I wish the team of walkers all the best of luck for the rest of their challenge and look forward to welcoming them to the FUW stand at the National Eisteddfod on Monday August 1.”

Exclusive tickets for a prime viewing location on the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ pavilion balcony alongside the main ring at Llanelwedd will be sold in a bid to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation Cymru on the Wednesday afternoon of the Royal Welsh Show.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We are offering exclusive access for a number of people to enjoy some Pimms on our balcony on Wednesday July 20 between 2.30pm and 5pm to watch the Senior Welsh Cob Stallions, which is generally the highlight of the main ring events during the show.”

Tickets for this exclusive occasion can be purchased on a first-come first-served basis from the FUW head office in Aberystwyth and will cost £20 a ticket. All proceeds raised will go towards BHF Cymru.

“We announced our charitable cause at the National Eisteddfod last year and have since then held a variety of events including farmhouse breakfast functions, a Christmas card design competition, and bingo evenings. This function is another push to raise some more money for this deserving charity.

“We are very excited to once again join in the fight against heart disease and hope the event will not just raise money for BHF Cymru but also raise awareness of how much of a problem heart disease is across Wales and the whole of the UK.

“Heart and circulatory disease takes the lives of more than 400 people in the UK each day. We hope that those participating will have a cracking good time whilst raising money to beat heart disease.

“The money that is raised goes to help fund life-transforming treatments, support pioneering research, and help care for people.

“Last year we presented T? Hafan and T? Gobaith with a cheque of £50,000 and hope that this fundraising term will be as successful,” added Mr Roberts.

For more information about the Union’s fundraising activities and to buy a ticket for the Wednesday afternoon contact the FUW’s head office on 01970 820820.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales welcomed the opportunity to take part in a wide-ranging round table discussion about the future of agriculture and the rural economy in Wales post Brexit.

The meeting which took place in Cardiff on Monday (July 4) was the first “stakeholder engagement meeting” held by the Welsh Government outlining the priority that has to be given to the challenges of exiting the environment, agriculture and rural affairs portfolios.

It was chaired by Lesley Griffiths the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and  Rural Affairs   and First Minister Carwyn Jones was present for much of the meeting.

“The situation is challenging but also a great opportunity,” said Glyn Roberts, the Union’s President.

“We’ve got a chance now to focus on creating a completely new and far more suitable way of managing and supporting agriculture here in Wales. We have to embrace this opportunity and work together to achieve the best possible outcome, one that recognises that farming matters.

“But we must never forget the importance of the family farm in the Welsh way of life, nor the importance of agriculture to the wider rural economy.”

Earlier in the day the Union had held its first internal meeting of County Chairmen and Standing Committee Chairmen, since the referendum, to discuss the challenges and also the Union’s response.

“There were very clear messages from the meeting,” said Mr Roberts.

“Many farmers are worried about the state and commitment to existing contracts and we must gain clarity for them. It was good to have the opportunity to raise these issues with the Cabinet Secretary, Lesley Griffiths and to ask for Welsh Government clarifications, which we hope to receive in the next day or two.”

“The feedback from our Members this morning was also positive,” added Mr Roberts.

“I get the impression that everyone has accepted that we are where we are, and must engage proactively and enthusiastically in order to prepare a better future.

“We know that it is currently very difficult to outline a clear plan, not least because of the rapidly changing political landscape in Westminster, but we will work closely with the Welsh Government, other member organisations and departments and also Government in London to get the best result for Wales. This will take time but we are pleased to be involved from the outset.”

The widespread uncertainty facing Welsh agriculture and the rural economy, and how agriculture might best be supported following an exit from the European Union, were key topics of discussion during a meeting of Farmers’ Union of Wales standing committee and county branch chairmen today.

The meeting took place ahead of a meeting with Welsh Ministers Carwyn Jones and Lesley Griffiths.

During the meeting, members emphasised the need for a reasonable timetable for negotiations and a smooth transition for the country was supported. Members also emphasised that a fair and sustainable future for Wales and its rural economy and agriculture could only be secured if farm incomes improved.

FUW President Glyn Roberts, who chaired the meeting, said "There were a wider range of questions, from the impact Brexit could have on our TB eradication programme and our exports, to the impact Brexit could have on devolution and the Barnett Formula.

"There was general agreement that the Brexit timetable would make far more sense if aligned with the EU budgetary period which ends in 2020, since the work associated with negotiations, discussions, and legislative changes during an exit process is unprecedented."

Mr Roberts said that, having been involved in the CAP negotiations with Welsh Government and the EU from 2008 onwards, and having witnessed first hand the problems caused by having to accelerated negotiations over a short period, the Union was well aware of the problems which could follow a hasty Brexit.

Mr Roberts said that the meeting was the first of many which would take place with members over the coming weeks, months and years, in order to ensure that the needs of agriculture and rural economies were met during the forthcoming negotiations and beyond.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is warning members and rural business not to respond to a scam letter issued by ‘Welsh Commercial Register’ asking them to provide details of their company.

The letter, which reads: “...If you require the publication of further company details which exceeds the scope of the basic data entry, please use the attached form and return this to us. As our company is not affiliated with a public authority or any official entity, this entry is subject to a charge….”

The attached form asks businesses to enter their details for which they will get charged 993 Euros plus VAT. By signing the form the person authorises ‘Direct Publisher S.L.U.’ to record and publish the information and data provided as an advertising insert for a period of three years.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “This letter has been made to look like official Government communication, which could easily trick many farmers and rural business owners into providing their details.

“The financial implication of providing the company with business details could be devastating. I urge farmers and rural business owners to remain vigilant against these scam letters.” 

Any farmer who is unsure as to the validity of a letter asking for financial or business details should contact their local trading standards office or contact the Citizens Advice consumer services on 03454 04 05 06 or a Welsh line on 03454 04 05 05.