[caption id="attachment_4142" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Meurig Voyle[/caption]

The life and times of Farmers' Union of Wales stalwart Meurig Voyle - who began working for the union in Carmarthenshire over 50 years ago before retiring as its Denbighshire county executive officer in 1990 - were recounted recently at a special event in his honour.

Denbigh Rugby Club was packed out by members and friends as S4C's Ffermio programme's former presenter Sulwyn Thomas compered the evening which featured a talk by 88-year-old Mr Voyle who continues to cut a familiar figure greeting visitors to the FUW's pavilion alongside the main ring at the Royal Welsh Show.

FUW life member Mr Voyle has performed the task for 47 years in his capacity as caretaker of the union's pavilion, and previously its marquee stand, at the show.

As a young newspaper reporter in Carmarthen, Mr Thomas recalled first meeting Mr Voyle in 1961. "Meurig was the FUW's assistant county secretary for Carmarthenshire and always had a good story to tell which invariably made the news columns.

"Reporters are a cynical bunch. We look at people very clinically but when we come across a gem like Meurig Voyle we put a tick in the box," Mr Thomas added.

He recalled the active part Mr Voyle, a native of Llanddarog, near Carmarthen, played in a campaign in 1964 when farmers and villagers at neighbouring Llangendeirne refused to allow a survey of a site for a proposed reservoir.

Mr Voyle was appointed FUW's Denbighshire county secretary in 1966 after being assistant county secretary in Carmarthenshire for five years.

He soon discovered reporters had been invited to attend meetings of Denbighshire county executive committee since December 1960 but great difficulty was experienced in having FUW reports included in the local press.

"However, the problem was resolved when I suggested to the editors that union members might boycott their newspapers," he revealed.

Looking to the future, Mr Voyle said the young farmers in the audience needed to keep the FUW going because of the sacrifice so many members had made in the past to ensure its continued survival.

"They all deserve our respect," he added.

FUW president Emyr Jones said it was good to see the clubhouse full for the event which also raised funds towards the union's sponsorship of the Crown at next year's National Eisteddfod in Denbighshire.

"I would like to thank Meurig for his services and all the good things he has done to fly the flag for the union," Mr Jones added.

In a vote of thanks, the union's Denbighshire county chairman Iwan Jones said: "It is now up to us to keep the union going in the same way as Mr Voyle did."

[caption id="attachment_4138" align="aligncenter" width="500"] OUTSTANDING SERVICE: From left, Meinir Bartlett, Roy Davies FRAgS and United Counties’ Agricultural Hunters Society chairman Lynn Davies ARAgS.[/caption]

A well-known retired banker has been presented with the Farmers' Union of Wales/United Counties Agricultural & Hunters Society award for outstanding service to agriculture in Carmarthenshire.

Former Carmarthen-based HSBC Bank plc agricultural manager Roy Davies, a Fellow of Royal Agricultural Societies (FRAgS), received the award during last weekend's Welsh Dairy Show annual dinner.

FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer Meinir Bartlett said: "During his time with HSBC Agricultural Banking in Carmarthenshire and West Wales, Mr Davies worked extremely hard and in a fully professional manner for the benefit of his farming clients and the promotion of agriculture in general."

Mr Davies has been a committee member of the Welsh Dairy Show since it was founded in 1989 and is now president-elect.

Since his retirement he has been elected South Wales chairman of the Welsh Assembly Appeals Panel and, since 2002, treasurer of Carmarthen Chamber of Agriculture and recently finished his term of office as president of the Chamber.

He represents the county on the RWAS sponsorship committee and is honorary treasurer to Carmarthenshire RWAS Advisory Committee. In 1997 he was made a FRAgS in recognition of "25 years of advice to Welsh farming".

Mr Davies said: "This award came as a complete shock and I feel very humble, especially when I look at the past winners. I consider myself very lucky to have worked within such a committed industry which never appears to get the credit it deserves.

"However, the greatest pleasure I have had over the past 34 years is that I have lived and worked in Carmarthen with the friends I have made - and that is worth so much."

Deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies and S4C Fferm Ffactor winner Aled Rees will be the guest speakers at the Farmers' Union of Wales Denbigh county branch annual general meeting on Friday November 9 at the Brookhouse Mill, Denbigh.

The meeting will start at 7.30pm prompt and Mr Davies will discuss various topics including CAP reform discussions, Glastir agri-environmental scheme and bovine TB while Cardigan farmer Mr Rees, winner of the first series of Fferm Ffactor in 2009, will give an insight into the series as a competitor and, more recently, a judge.

In addition, he will talk of the way he and his wife, in partnership with his uncle, have developed their farming business over the years.

FUW Denbigh and Flint county executive officer Rhys Roberts said: "It is hoped that a good turnout of members will ensure the speakers are provided with plenty of challenging questions on all matters agricultural.

"It is important that when we get an opportunity to engage with the deputy minister we grab it with both hands and make sure that the views of the grassroots farmers in Wales are heard."

Farmers coming to the end of their transitional agri-environment agreements were today urged by the Farmers' Union of Wales to start thinking about their Glastir applications.

To ensure they are not left in a vacuum between the ending of their existing contracts and the beginning of the new, farmers should be starting to consider whether they need to obtain an application form, or book a consultant to visit the farm, to help assess the necessary points required to enter the scheme.

"Farmers who wish to be considered for the Glastir Advanced Element in addition to the basic scheme should ensure that their applications are submitted as early as possible in 2013 to allow time for the necessary farm visits and contracts to be drawn up," said FUW deputy director of agricultural policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

"There is also likely to be great demand for the services of farm consultants next year as many farmers come to the end of their transitional arrangements and so we are urging farmers to think ahead now and contact Farming Connect or their own advisers to ensure that they are able to submit their applications in sufficient time," she added.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today expressed it disappointment that the ten non-executive directors appointed to the new body replacing Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales lacks representation from the farming industry.

FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman, Anglesey farmer Gavin Williams, said: "In principle we supported the need for a more streamlined approach to regulating the environment in Wales but we remain concerned that delivery on the ground is properly maintained.

"We had hoped the ethos of the new body would be to work constructively with farmers to deliver environmental benefits for all but, unfortunately, it appears it will be top heavy with academics and public sector appointees and far too little representation from the agricultural industry.

"Given the important contribution made by all private sector businesses to the rural economy, we are also disappointed that there is a complete lack of representation from the private sector as well as the forestry sector”.

Environment minister John Griffiths revealed the new body will be known as Natural Resources Wales or Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru and it will be crucial to a sustainable future for the people, environment and economy of Wales.

“Not only will the new body result in a more streamlined way of working for the benefit of its customers, it will also ensure more effective delivery, improved value for money and better outcomes for the people of Wales,” he added.

Mr Williams added: "Based on the aspirations set out by the ministers in his announcement earlier today and the lack of farmer, private sector and forestry representation on the Board of Natural Resources Wales, there will have to be a significant amount of bridge building between the Body and the rural industries".

An open evening for farmers to discuss the environment and planning for the future will be held by the Farmers’ Union of Wales Gwent branch at Abergavenny Rugby Club on Tuesday October 30 at 7.30pm.

The meeting will give them the opportunity to hear presentations by Nicola Salter, from Environment Agency Wales, on “Environment Agency and the Farmer” and a representative from solicitors Hugh James & Co will talk about “Planning For The Future”.

FUW Gwent county executive officer Glyn Davies said: “We are looking forward to an evening where farmers can ask questions on the role of Environment Agency Wales in relation to farming, cross compliance issues, slurry and fuel store regulations and hear about succession law, the potential pitfalls and how they could affect farming business.

“The session with Hugh James & Co will also provide information on how to take steps to avoid common pitfalls. Please telephone FUW Gwent county office to confirm attendance on 01873 853280.”