The Farmers’ Union of Wales has organised a European Election hustings for Ceredigion voters on May 13 at the Llanina Hotel, Llanarth, starting at 7.30pm.

FUW county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones said: “It seems that this is the only hustings of its kind to be held in Ceredigion and we strongly believe it’s essential for electors to have the chance to ask questions to the candidates as well as listen to their views and opinions.

“There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions during the evening as well as hear each party’s aspirations for Wales within Europe.”

Five party representatives - Alec Dauncey (Liberal Democrat), Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru), Alex Thomas (Labour), Aled Davies (Conservative) and Anthony Slaughter (Green Party) - will take part.

For more information or to book your place, contact Caryl Wyn-Jones on 01545 571 222.

With only two weeks left until the May 15 deadline for IACS/Single Application Form (SAF) submission, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers to ensure forms are completed accurately and submitted on time as failure to do so could drastically reduce their payments not just in 2014 but also over the coming four years.

FUW president Emyr Jones said: “We’re still awaiting confirmation from Welsh Government of how payments will be calculated from 2015 onwards, but it seems highly likely that the Single Payment a farmer receives in December 2014 will be used as a reference for calculating the historical element of payment entitlements from 2015 to 2019.

“This means that a simple mistake - or worse still failure to submit the form this year - could not only lead to a loss of payment in 2014, but also a growing loss over the coming four years.”

The Welsh Government hopes to introduce transitional payment entitlement values based upon historical:flat rate ratios of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 and 20:80 in the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Regulations, the historical baseline value of payment entitlements can be based on the Single Payment made to a farmer in 2014 and, if such a system is adopted, this means a fall in the payment received in 2014 would lead to lower payments in 2015-2019.

“This means that every €1,000 lost in 2014 due to errors or failure to submit the form could lead to a total further loss over the 2015 to 2019 period of up to €2,000, “ Mr Jones added.

The news that Dairy Crest is to reduce its farm gate milk prices by 2 pence per litre (ppl) to its unaligned producers is a disgrace and highlights the weakness of milk contracts in general, the Farmers' Union of Wales dairy and milk committee chairman Dei Davies said today.

"The rate these milk producers will now get paid is 3-4ppl below the costs of production, which is quite frankly scandalous," said Mr Davies.

"Dairy farmers are often adversely affected by poor contracts. They may be required to give 12 or more months' notice to pull out but the price the farmer is paid can be changed at a few days' notice  by the processor," added Mr Davies.

"There is no reason for these milk prices to drop other than that Dairy Crest has lost the contract of a major supermarket and this is putting dairy farmers in an impossible situation.

"The Union believes that urgent Government action is required to eliminate unreasonable contractual practices and create fairer and more balanced terms for farmers.

"It is obvious that there is a need to introduce legislation as a matter of urgency if the Government wants to ensure the survival of the milk and dairy industry," added Mr Davies.

A former chairman of the Farmers' Union of Wales milk and dairy produce committee today expressed disappointment that two leading dairy companies are dropping the price they pay farmers for their milk.

"We are disappointed that milk prices are dropping just as the industry is beginning to get back the confidence it needs to invest in a better future," said Eifion Huws, who runs a dairy farm at Bodedern on Anglesey.

Today Arla announced a drop in the price it will pay to farmers of 1.27ppl - taking effect from Monday (April 28) - which reduces their standard litre price in the UK to 33.74p per litre (ppl).

And Dairy Crest recently announced a 0.435ppl reduction in its May formula contract options - rebased from the April position - that will take the core formula to 32.315ppl and the simplified formula to 32.125ppl. DC’s current standard litre price is 32.56ppl.

Mr Huws said they both expressed support for the industry's voluntary code of practice published in October 2012. One of its main objectives was that dairy farmers would get 30 days notice of any price change.

"But Arla does not accept the 30-day notice objective for some of its suppliers and the fact that they are able to drop the price within four days - while the other companies adhere to the code - shows there may be a strong case for legislation on this issue."

Last May the FUW welcomed a recommendation by the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee stating that the code must be given a chance to work but, if tangible improvements are not forthcoming, the Government must be prepared to legislate.

"We supported the introduction of the code and were willing to give it a chance but it now seems we still need to look at whether some form of legislation could be swiftly introduced if it is not working as intended," Mr Huws added.

"Even in May last year evidence was emerging about processors opting out of the code, in full or in part, and we believed then that the threat of legislation would help push the code forward.

"Admittedly, the code's ability to work for every producer to the same degree is probably limited but we still have concerns that purchasers are cherry-picking elements that they want and leaving producers in a worse position."

According to Welsh Government statistics the number of dairy farms in Wales reduced by nearly 900 from 2,727 in 2006 to 1,845 in 2012.

[caption id="attachment_2851" align="aligncenter" width="300"] former chairman of the Farmers' Union of Wales milk and dairy produce committee Eifion Huws[/caption]

An agricultural student at Pencoed College, near Bridgend, has won the Farmers’ Union of Wales Glamorganshire county branch Walter Rowlands Memorial Award.

David Bugler, who lives with his parents Michael and Margaret, at Merios Farm, Llanharan, Pontyclun, received the award in time to commence his diploma in agriculture which involves learning about the industry in college as well as gaining practical experience at local farms.

He said: “Farming has been always been my passion and I have learnt a lot about the logistics of running a farm from my father and grandfather.

“I particularly enjoy working with the livestock on our farm which consists of beef cattle and breeding ewes and I look forward to going to the livestock markets to keep up-to-date with the weekly price of livestock.

“In the future I would like to take over the family farm with the intention of continuing to run it for future generations. I feel that my course will teach me how to run the farm to its full potential and the award will assist me to purchase reading material for the course.”

The award, in memory of FUW county secretary Walter G Rowlands who died in service in 1986, is made to an agricultural student in the county after careful consideration by the union’s Glamorganshire county executive committee.

FUW Glamorganshire county chairman Richard Walker, who presented the award to David, said: “It is very encouraging to see such enthusiasm from the younger generation towards the agricultural industry and the FUW are keen to continue supporting promising young farmers through this award.

“David is more than deserving of this award and both he and his family should be very proud of his achievements. We wish David all the best with his future studies and management of the farm.”

[caption id="attachment_2848" align="aligncenter" width="300"] MEMORIAL AWARD: Richard Walker and David Bugler.[/caption]

Carmarthenshire farmers expressed their views about the proposed Brechfa windfarms connection project during a well attended meeting organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales county branch at nearby Peniel community school hall.

"A lot of issues were raised and useful advice provided by Philip Meade, of the FUW's Oswestry-based property consultants Davis Meade, and solicitor Rhodri Jones from Agri Advisor of Pumsaint," said the union's Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters.

"Among members' concerns were the potential implications of the project on a variety of issues including planning, land rights, land agents' fees costs and guidance to landowners."

The project involves Western Power Distribution (WPD) providing a connection between the proposed Brechfa Forest windfarms and the electricity network, said Mr Waters.

"As the electricity distributor throughout Wales, they have a legal responsibility to connect the new power generation to the electricity network.

"WPD is not involved with the development of the proposed wind farms. Their plan is to provide a network of electricity lines carried on twin wooden poles from the wind turbines and connect to an existing overhead power line running from Llandyfaelog, south of Carmarthen, to a sub-station north of Swansea, thus reducing the length of the new connection."

Proposed routes and summary packs have been sent to potential affected individuals along the proposed routes and consultation events have taken place recently.

[caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="224"] ISSUES RAISED: From left, FUW vice president Brian Walters, Philip Meade and Rhodri Jones.[/caption]