The lifting of the 15-year export ban on British beef to the United States and the aligning of US import rules on BSE with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has been hailed a major success by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The US market, which has been closed to any EU beef since the BSE crisis of the 1990s, is now open after the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is bringing the US legislation in line with the international science on BSE risk.

FUW livestock, wool and marts committee chairman Dafydd Roberts welcomed the lifting of the ban. He said: “This is fantastic news, not just for the British beef industry but also for us Welsh farmers.

“Beef and lamb exports to the US could be worth more than £60m a year but it is of course going to take some time to show the US what fantastic quality beef we produce in this country.

“For many years the US import ban has been at the top of the agenda during our annual meetings with the US Department of Agriculture, and we are looking forward to exploring the new market and building a strong relationship with consumers in the US.

“We still need to have our meat inspection systems recognised as equivalent to those in the US, but once this has been overcome I hope that American consumers will be enjoying quality Welsh beef ,” added Mr Roberts.

Two leading Farmers' Union of Wales members stressed the importance of support from government and retailers to ensure the survival of family farms during a meeting in London on Tuesday (October 29).

The union's president, Bala farmer Emyr Jones, told a Family Farmers’ Association open meeting that family farmers were passionate about the food they produce but passion alone cannot sustain their businesses.

He said the Single Farm Payment (SFP) was a "lifeline" for many farmers and the prospect of the UK leaving the EU made him "very nervous". He added: “We are heavily dependent on our SFP and would not be able to survive without it.

“A referendum on Europe makes me very nervous. We feel we have to be a part of the EU to carry on farming.”

Mr Jones, who farms beef and sheep with his two sons, said the country’s farmers needed more support from Westminster and from the National Assembly in Cardiff.

Former FUW Ceredigion county chairman Ionwen Lewis said family farms were often a forgotten species.

“What must not be forgotten, though, is farming is a thriving bright spot in the British economy and it is important the law makers realise agriculture is not just about skylark numbers.

“Family farms do not just produce food, they have maintained the landscape and nurtured unique communities and the rural way of life for thousands of years.”

Mrs Lewis, a former Women’s Food and Farming Union (WFU) president whose son is eventually expected to take over the farm, agreed the industry needed support but added it had a "bright" future.

She said: “British agriculture has faced challenging and often turbulent times over the last decade, with outbreaks of devastating animal diseases, low farmgate prices and increasing import costs, as well as never ending forms to fill in.

“Yet, probably because we are the most resilient and proudest of people in any industry, most of us are still around and as optimistic as ever.”

She said the WFU conference in London next year would be looking at how the problem could be tackled.

“Why do we need to produce more when we are wasting so much? We are wasting 50 per cent of the food we produce in the world.

“The best way to care for the countryside is to farm it and make full use of its produce.

“We enjoy what we do and it is always a challenge to produce more food to meet the growing demand every year - but the fact that in the UK, seven million tonnes of food is thrown away every year is horrifying.”

[caption id="attachment_2652" align="aligncenter" width="786"] Emyr Jones (far right) on the family farm near Bala with his sons Dylan (left) and Aled[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2653" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Former FUW Ceredigion county chairman Ionwen Lewis[/caption]

Meirionnydd Day organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales at the House of Commons yesterday (Thursday, October 31) was an excellent shop window to show a wide audience what the county offers, the local MP told dozens of fellow MPs and peers.

"As Member of Parliament for Dwyfor Meirionnydd I was honoured to host Meirionnydd Day in Westminster together with the Meirionnydd branch of the FUW," said Elfyn Llwyd. "The event was an excellent shop window to show the wider audience what this historic county has to offer.

"Most businesses within my constituency are connected to agriculture or tourism and it is very heartening to see so many intrinsic businesses succeeding in this area. Some say that it is more difficult to be successful in a rural area - and, undoubtedly, more challenges have to be overcome in an area such as Meirionnydd.

"However, it was very encouraging to see so many successful businesses present at Meirionnydd Day which proves that success is possible."

FUW president Emyr Jones, who farms in Meirionnydd near Bala, said: "We are really grateful to Mr Llwyd and his staff members in the constituency and at Westminster for all the help they have given us to make sure this project was a great success.

“Mr Llwyd is a strong supporter of agriculture, food and the rural economy and his enthusiasm for this event underlines that. He has always been ready to help the farming community and has cemented close links with the FUW."

Companies displaying a range of Welsh food and drink included EUROSPAR, Dolgellau. The store, opened in September 2009, is owned and managed by former Wales the True Taste Champion Conrad Davies and is one of four EUROSPAR stores in North Wales.

They specialise in sourcing from 70 suppliers within a 50-mile radius and cover a multitude of product categories, giving priority to local food.

Another local product, Cerist Water, extracted and bottled at the source of the ancient spring at Llawr Cae, Dinas Mawddwy, was also on display.

The event drew attention to a new venture Gwin Dylanwad Wine - a wine importing business wholesaling and retailing in North Wales involving the purchase of a former Threshers site in Dolgellau currently undergoing renovation and restoration. It will be opened next Spring as a wine tasting house and cafe bar run as a unique wine experience in Wales.

Welsh jewellery designer Mari Eluned used the event to display her products. She has set up her own workshop at Mallwyd, near Dinas Mawddwy, where natural materials are combined with precious metal and transformed into delicate, tactile jewellery inspired by nature, agriculture and her Welsh roots.

Meirionnydd representatives were also present from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and Snowdonia National Park Authority promoted what the park has to offer.

It highlighted Yr Ysgwrn, a traditional Welsh farmhouse and grade II listed building plus the 163-acre hill farm which came to international recognition in 1917 as the home of poet Ellis Humphrey Evans, better known by his bardic name Hedd Wyn. Yr Ysgwrn and its contents are owned and managed by Snowdonia National Park Authority.

Gwynedd Council representatives gave an overview of the area, its people and the opportunities for economic development and prominence was given to Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) which works with all sectors of the Welsh red meat industry - from farmers to retailers - to develop profitable markets for Welsh Lamb, Welsh Beef and pork from Wales.

There was also a display by the British Wool Marketing Board - the farmer-run organisation established in 1950 to operate a central marketing system for UK fleece wool, with the aim of achieving the best possible net return for producers.

Products from Baavet Cyf (Ltd), the pure wool duvet and pillows company, of Harlech, were also on display. This enterprise is a farm diversification scheme which began in 2009 when wool prices were at an all time low.

It has doubled turnover year on year, selling mainly on the internet, and now employ five full-time local people and four part-time plus six ancillary people in their direct sales teams. They use UK wool that comes mainly from Wales.

[caption id="attachment_2648" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] MEIRIONNYDD DAY: From left, FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones, Neath MP Peter Hain, FUW president Emyr Jones and Elfyn Llwyd.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2649" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] SHOP WINDOW: From left, House of Commons sous chef Terry Wiggins, Hybu Cig Cymru communications manager Alan Morris and Emyr Jones[/caption]

With bonfire night fast approaching, the Farmers’ Union of Wales today urged people to remember the distress fireworks and sky lanterns can cause to livestock and pets.

“We call on people to stick to the firework safety code at all times over the bonfire season to minimise the risk to livestock, pets and humans,” said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams.

“Animals in general are not fond of the noise of fireworks and can become quite stressed during this time of year. Therefore, we urge people to be considerate and not let them off near livestock.

“It is also a good idea to make sure that your pets have been micro-chipped by a vet prior to bonfire night, just in case they go missing.

“The FUW recommends that people visit an organised display but if you are having a display at home please make sure you follow the firework code at all times to minimise the stress for farm animals and children,” added Mr Williams.

“We further urge people not to use sky lanterns as they pose significant dangers to livestock and are, of course, a considerable fire safety risk.”

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed the support of several Welsh MPs for "swap loan" victims seeking redress during a House of Commons back bench business debate.

The debate, called by Aberconwy Conservative MP Guto Bebb, slammed the lack of progress by the banks and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on a redress scheme following the mis-selling of complex interest rate derivatives to small and medium businesses.

FUW business development director Emyr James said: "We are supporting a number of FUW members who have fallen victim to swap loans for their various farming enterprises, which have included land purchases, and any other members still concerned about this issue can contact me in confidence.

"By now they are thoroughly frustrated at the lack of progress by the banks and FCA in their efforts to seek redress so we were very pleased to hear this issue has at last been the subject of a Commons debate led by Mr Bebb, who we have been working with over the past year.

"Mr Bebb took up the issue as far back as November 2011 when one of his constituents went to his surgery to complain that he had been 'mis-sold' a complex financial product called an 'interest rate swap'.

"The constituent claimed not to have understood what he was agreeing to when he was forced to take out this 'swap' as a means of securing a bank loan. Following his enquiries into the matter over the past year Mr Bebb found that many of these complicated and costly products have been sold to farmers.

"And we, too, have discovered FUW members from Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire and Caernarfonshire who are in a similar predicament."

Together with the FUW, Federation of Small Business, the "Bully Banks" pressure group and the All Party Parliamentary Group which he established, Mr Bebb has been pressurising the banks to provide adequate redress to affected businesses but believes the review is taking longer than many people would like.

A trip to the Scottish Parliament and the Agriscot show from Tuesday November 19 to Thursday November 21 has been organised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales Ceredigion branch for members and non-members of the union.

Agriscot is the UK’s premier farm business event and farmers will be able to view the latest developments in farm hardware and technology from state-of-the-art tractors to equipment for arable and livestock farms. It will also be attended by agriculture minister for Scotland Richard Lochhead MSP.

The county branch has also arranged to visit the Scottish Parliament and attend a question time session with the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.

FUW Ceredigion county chairman Aled Rees said: “It’s important to recognise all devolved governments of the UK and their valuable contribution and needs for the forthcoming CAP reform.

“Visiting Scotland will give Welsh farmers an insight into how other devolved UK governments are dealing with agriculture and its implication on the future of farming.”

FUW Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones said:  “Places are limited, so anyone interested in joining the trip, which includes a two-night hotel stay in the centre of Edinburgh and travel and entry to all events at £135 each, should contact us at the FUW Aberaeron office on 01545 571 222 by the end of October.”