The Farmers’ Union of Wales today welcomed the Chemicals Regulation Directorate’s decision to grant an emergency authorisation for the use of Asulam to control bracken in 2014 .

Asulam, marketed in the UK as Asulox, was banned from use in 2011 by the EU. The product, predominantly used for the control of bracken in Wales, is also authorised for use as a selective weed killer on spinach and lettuce but its use on salad crops provoked safety concerns that prompted the EU ban.

“Since the initial ban emergency authorisations have been granted to allow Asulam to be available and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate has confirmed that repeat emergency authorisations are allowed under Regulation (EU) No1107/2009,” said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams.

“Emergency authorisation restricts the use of Asulam to a three-month window, which requires a co-ordinated approach from manufacturers, distributers, aerial sprayers and farmers, but at least this provides an opportunity for its use until either an alternative pesticide is found or Asulam regains full authorisation,” said Mr Williams.

The agreed notice of authorisation for the 2014 spraying season is expected to be identical to 2013 apart from a slight difference in start and finish dates.

The Bracken Control Group, which has been campaigning for the full authorisation of the product, expects the dates for 2014 use to be:

May 19 - Start of the emergency authorisation period of 120 days.

July 1 - Application of Asulam products can commence.

September 16 - Sale and distribution of Asulam stops but use can continue.

October 31 - Use of Asulam must stop.

“The bracken control season is coming to a close for 2013  and we urge farmers to be aware of the  expiry date  of October 31. After this date it will be illegal to store Asulam and we would advise anyone who has Asulam in their possession to use it before the final cut-off date or return it to their supplier,” added Mr Williams.

Welsh farmers were reminded today to make sure they register their farm waste exemptions with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) before the deadline on the last day of this month.

The Farmers' Union of Wales stressed that the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010, affect farm-based exemptions registered before 6 April 2010 which are set to expire on 30 September 2013.

When the Regulations were first introduced, the industry was assured registration of exemptions would be a one-off exercise, said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams. “Unfortunately, despite our repeated representations, changes to legislation now require exemptions to be re-registered on a three-year basis.

“Some of the new exemptions are almost identical to the old ones, some are similar and some are completely new and cover activities such as reusing, treating and disposing of waste, burning hedge trimmings and the use of clean builder’s rubble in the foundations of a new barn or shed.”

Over the summer NRW have sent some 14,000 letters to farmers in Wales advising them to register on-line as early as possible.

“FUW county executive officers have also been offering to help farmers register exemptions and it is extremely important for farmers who undertake these waste activities to either register for an exemption or apply for a permit before the end of September,” Mr Williams added.

Exemptions are free to register and are valid for three years. Farmers can register online at www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk or at through their local FUW county office.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today reiterated its reminder to farmers to ensure they take steps to protect all interests and rights on their land before the fast-approaching October 13 deadline for registration under the Land Registration Act 2002.

"Manorial rights, which can include sporting rights, access rights, the right to hold markets and fairs on the land, and potentially the most valuable mines and mineral rights are known as over-riding interests," said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams.

“But the Land Registration Act 2002 states that all manorial rights must be registered by the 13th October 2013 so landowners must register their manorial rights with the Land Registry before this date to ensure protection.

“Under the Act, manorial rights will lose their ‘overriding interest’ status at midnight on October 12, 2013 meaning that all rights must be mentioned in a conveyance in order to bind the purchaser of the land.

"If they have not already done so, landowners and owners of manorial rights need to take steps to ensure protection as some rights not considered valuable at the moment may become valuable in the future.

"For example, mineral rights, often forgotten in remote locations, can become interesting if, for example, a renewable energy project such as fracking or a wind farm is proposed.

“The change in the law means that land buyers will know that they do actually own what is below their feet but it could mean others losing potentially valuable rights they once held.”

For further details visit http://www.landregistry.gov.uk or contact FUW County Offices.

Farmers' Union of Wales members in Glamorganshire are enduring sleepless nights over a notice recently served on them by the Land Registry.

The "B148 Notice of an application to register a profit a prendre in gross" relates to an attempt by Ogmore Angling Association trustees to register sole and exclusive fishing rights on the river Ogmore and its tributaries.

The notice states that a "profit a prendre in gross" is a right to take something from someone else's land such as fishing or shooting rights.

FUW members Tom and Beatrice Hayball-Jones of Moor Mill Farm, Troes, are among those who have received a copy of the notice even though only their family members have fished their stretch of the river for generations.

Mrs Hyball-Jones said was deeply upset when the notice arrived and could not sleep for several nights worrying about the implications. If the application is successful then the only way anglers can access the river is through their farmyard.

"The notice arrived completely out of the blue about a month ago and it was very officially worded," said Mrs Hyball-Jones. "Obviously, it caused panic because we didn't know how to reply.

"This early worry and panic has now turned to anger as the realisation that someone is attempting to take away something which has always belonged to us hits home."

FUW county executive officer Glyn Davies said: “Objections to the notice have to be lodged with the Land Registry within 21 days, but it needs to be quite specific in terms of how it is worded.

"This action by Ogmore Angling Association is quite alarming as the whole basis of the notice is relying upon a 1978 conveyance, which has already been proven in court to be defective.

"However, several other members have now received notices, which need to be dealt with. We have even got instances where notices have been served without plans so it is impossible to specify which section of river is being referred to.

"Well over 100 land owners are thought to be affected and the FUW wants to alert members to the danger of not dealing with this matter promptly. It could also set a very dangerous precedent if the angling association is successful in this instance."

Those FUW members affected are now in the process of contacting each other in order to appoint a solicitor to fight the angling association's application on their behalf.

The controversial issue of increasing access to waterways was discussed at a recent meeting of the union’s grand council in Aberystwyth when delegates were informed that culture and sport minister John Griffiths had instigated a review of access legislation with a view to producing a Green Paper at the end of the year.

"While the FUW would support the rationalisation of the Public Rights of Ways system to ensure that resources can be utilised more effectively in developing circular or linked networks, it is concerned at the implications for farming if a presumed right of access to land, particularly alongside inland waterways, is considered," said Holyhead farmer Gavin Williams, chairman of the union's land use and parliamentary committee.

[caption id="attachment_2582" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW members Tom and Beatrice Hayball-Jones of Moor Mill Farm[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers to be aware of the implications of some of the proposals currently under discussion as part of a review of access legislation in Wales.

At a recent meeting of the union’s grand council delegates were informed that culture and sport minister John Griffiths has instigated a review of all legislation covering access and outdoor recreation in Wales.

The review is aimed at simplifying and modernising current legislation to provide clarity and certainty over where people can go and what they can do.

While the FUW would support the rationalisation of the Public Rights of Ways system to ensure that resources can be utilised more effectively in developing circular or linked networks, it is concerned at the implications for livestock farming if there is a presumed right of access to land, particularly alongside inland waterways  .

“The proposals under discussion could have huge implications for farmers and landowners, particularly for the future of cattle farming,” said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams, of Holyhead, Anglesey.

“Whilst the union recognises the importance of improving the recreational opportunities in the countryside for tourism and health, it believes this should be through discussion and partnership in those areas with a real demand, rather than creating a statutory approach which could severely impact on the business and management decisions of farmers.

“The union would encourage farmers and landowners to get involved with the early discussions of the Green Paper by contacting their FUW county offices or Welsh Government. directly, so that their views can be included as early as possible in the pre-consultation discussions,” added Mr Williams

The pre-consultation phase will last until October and will be followed by a Welsh Government Green Paper consultation during December.

[caption id="attachment_2578" align="aligncenter" width="262"] FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales today called for greater transparency regarding the impact extra cattle control measures may have had on TB in the north Pembrokeshire Intensive Action Area (IAA).

Almost four years after biosecurity visits were first instigated in the area, and more than three years after a raft of extra cattle testing and controls were introduced as part of a programme which was originally to have comprised badger culling, information about the impact of the measures has been “sparse to say the least”, says the union.

FUW TB spokesman, vice president Brian Walters, said: “Those who are opposed to badger culling are forever blaming cattle for TB despite the fact that we have some of the strictest rules in the EU.

“Since April 2010 a raft of even stricter cattle rules have been introduced in the IAA, the frequency of TB testing has been doubled and, following last year’s U-turn on a badger cull, the area is now in the second year of a badger vaccination programme.

“Unless there had been a significant change in TB incidences in the area compared with previous disease levels and those in other, similar areas, it would be impossible to attribute any changes to the actions taken in the area. However, farmers and the general public have a right to know what impact, if any, these measures are having.”

Mr Walters said there were significant additional costs for farmers in the area who had accepted the additional rules on the understanding that a badger cull would take place.

“Despite two Welsh Assembly majority votes in support of a badger cull, the industry was last year betrayed by the Welsh Government U-turn, and we believe farmers within and around the IAA, and the general public, have a right to know how the TB statistics relating to the area have changed.”

Mr Walters added that farmers in the area felt little had changed since 2009 in terms of TB levels, and many felt things had got worse.

“However, we have no choice but to rely on this type of anecdotal feedback because we do not have the real figures to hand,” he said. 

In a letter to natural resources and food minister Alun Davies, the union asks the Welsh Government to issue a full report detailing all statistics and changes relevant to bTB in the IAA since an appropriate time before the establishment of the IAA and for further updates on a regular, three or six-monthly basis following the production of such a report.

The letter states: “Such updates should be used as the basis of decisions as to whether or not actions within the IAA should be continued.”

The letter, which also asks that money allocated for co-funded badger vaccination should be reallocated, concludes: “Given that budgetary constraints are a major factor in terms of delaying longstanding proposals to update the current holding identification system, we believe that the current proposal to co-fund badger vaccination outside the IAA at vast expense to the taxpayer represents a further misdirection of funds which could otherwise be used to undertake more meaningful and worthwhile work.

"We would therefore urge you to consider using those funds for more worthwhile purposes.”

[caption id="attachment_2575" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW TB spokesman, vice president Brian Walters[/caption]