Following the launch by Hybu Cig Cymru of a consultation paper on increasing red meat levies in Wales, the Farmers' Union of Wales is consulting its county branches on the proposed increases.

The first levy increase in a decade, if approved, would see farmers and processors paying an extra 16p for sheep, £1.10 for cattle and 25p for pigs entering the human food chain.

Responding to the consultation's launch, Aeron Prysor Jones, chairman of the FUW's livestock, wool and marts committee said: "The union's hill farming and livestock committees were recently given a presentation by HCC's chief executive, Gwyn Howells, about the work of HCC and the proposed increase.

"HCC undertakes a great deal of important research and promotion work which many farmers are unaware of. The reduction in livestock numbers which has occurred over the past years, coupled with other factors, has led to a significant drop in HCC's funds, and this has threatened much of that work.

"The industry now needs to carefully consider the implications of maintaining the status quo or supporting a rise in levy, and the union will respond to the proposals reflecting our members views."

Mr Jones also expressed his major concerns regarding the implication of falling livestock numbers.

"During HCC's presentation, members expressed major concerns over the fall in Welsh livestock numbers, and that the new Glastir scheme will accelerate this, further reducing the money available for HCC to undertake its functions.

"This is an outrageous situation, given that our major competitors such as the Irish will continue to receive significant LFA payments which aid production."

[caption id="attachment_4946" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The voice of Welsh red meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru’s 2010 TV advertising campaign who often seeks inspiration by walking the Dyfi Valley farm where his father was born.[/caption]

Farmers' Union of Wales leaders walked in the footsteps of Welsh actor Matthew Rhys when they visited his cousin's family farm in Mid Wales yesterday (October 13).

FUW president Gareth Vaughan and deputy president Emyr Jones called on the union's local chairman, 24-year-old Sion Evans, on their way to address members at a branch meeting in Pennal, near Machynlleth.

Sion farms with his parents Hywel and Ceinwen who are uncle and aunt to Matthew who often goes back to his roots and visits their farm at Marchlyn in the Dyfi Valley where his father was born.

Matthew, who rose to fame playing alongside Kathleen Turner in the West End stage production of The Graduate, has walked and talked in the Dyfi Valley with local wildlife expert Iolo Williams for S4C's "Crwydro" series.

Marchlyn, which extends to just over 300 acres, is a typical family farm with 500 Welsh Mountain ewes, 200 of which are crossed with Suffolk and Blue Face Leicester.

In addition 120 ewe lambs are kept annually as replacements. Stocking also includes 25 suckler cows crossed with a Charolais bull. The farm is in the Tir Cynnal scheme, and has expressed an interest in the Glastir scheme.

As with many family farms it diversified into tourism 15 years ago and outbuildings have been converted to bed and breakfast accommodation which can accommodate up to 11 persons. Some outbuildings can also be let as self-catering accommodation.

Sion has a keen interest in the agricultural industry and after completing his A levels at Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Dolgellau, he attended the Scottish Agricultural College at Dumfries where he obtained an HND in agriculture in 2005.

He has since gained valuable experience visiting New Zealand, in particular perfecting his shearing skills. He now takes time out of the farm during June and July each year as a shearing contractor, as well as occasionally other farm work.

"Matthew is a regular visitor and he enjoys walking the farm and sometimes being involved in the faming activities," he told the union's leaders.

"We are now looking forward to the launch of his book on November 23 about his experiences crossing the plain in Patagonia - ''Croesi'r Paith''," added Sion, who is also hoping for an opportunity to visit Patagonia in the future.

In the "Crwydro" programme Matthew revealed he really wanted to be a farmer when he was younger but his grandmother used to try to talk him out of it by saying he would be better off getting a "proper" job.

"She wanted me to be a chef!" he told Iolo. "I don't know whether or not I could be a farmer now having lived all my life in towns and cities.

"Like many people, I have a romantic idea about farming although I do understand how difficult it is."

Explaining why he likes to return to Gwynedd when his busy schedule permits, Matthew added: "I love coming back to this area to relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside.

"I have lots of family here and I enjoy hearing stories about my grandmother and grandfather. The peacefulness of the place certainly appeals and is a pleasant contrast to the hustle-bustle of city life."

[caption id="attachment_4940" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Stephen Crabb - furthest right - inspects a badger sett with FUW Pembrokeshire members.[/caption]

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has visited a farm near Neyland to hear first hand how bovine TB restrictions continue to affect the farming community in his constituency.

His visit, organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales, took place just as the UK Coalition Government launched a consultation on bovine TB calling for individuals to submit views on the launch of a carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control, as part of a package of measures, in areas of England with high and persistent levels of bovine TB in cattle.

The Welsh Assembly Government also announced that they would be inviting views on proposed legislation for badger culling as part of a comprehensive programme to eradicate bovine TB in cattle in West Wales.

Its draft Badger (Control Area) (Wales) Order 2010 will allow a Government-managed cull of badgers, alongside additional cattle measures, in an Intensive Action Area in North Pembrokeshire. This action comes after the Badger Trust won a court appeal against a cull in July 2010.

"We brought together farmers from across the county to discuss issues ranging from tenancy farming to affordable housing but the discussion centred on the devastating impact of bovine TB," said the FUW's Pembrokeshire county executive officer Rebecca Williams.

"The farm where the visit took place has been under restriction for bovine TB for most of the last five years and Mr Crabb also met a farmer whose herd had been wiped out by the disease."

Government statistics suggest that, in parts of Wales, bovine TB has escalated to unsustainable levels over the past 25 years. This is placing a huge financial burden on the Government, taxpayers and farmers.

After the visit Mr Crabb said: "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with farmers and representatives from the FUW in Pembrokeshire.

"Farming is extremely important to Pembrokeshire's economy and way of life. It is important that we take action to ensure that farming in the UK has a viable and sustainable future.

"I was disappointed to hear that bovine TB continues to have a devastating impact on the farming community in the county. It vital that we eradicate bovine TB in Wales by tackling all sources of the disease and I welcome the recent consultations launched by the Conservative-Liberal Coalition Government in London and Plaid-Labour in the Welsh Assembly Government.

"I hope that we can now make real progress to support the farming community and eradicate the bovine TB."

[caption id="attachment_4954" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Gareth Vaughan, Terrig Morgan and HSBC's head of agriculture Allan Wilkinson[/caption]

This year's popular and worthy winner of the Farmers' Union of Wales-HSBC Bank plc award for outstanding service to the Welsh dairy industry received the trophy during today's Welsh Dairy Show at Carmarthen.

Dairy farmer Terrig Goronwy Morgan MBE BSc (Hons) FRAgS, of Carreg-y-Llech, Treuddyn, Mold, has spent the past 45 years heavily involved in Welsh agricultural circles.

Between 1965 and 1970 he studied at University College of Wales Aberystwyth where he obtained a BSc Honours degree in agriculture and became a research assistant running an Agricultural Board funded project entitled "Training needs in the Hill Farms of Wales".

From 1973 to 1976 he taught agriculture to day-release students at the Welsh College of Horticulture in Northop and in 2003 he was awarded an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies.

In the New Year's Honours List of 2007 he was awarded the MBE for services to the dairy industry and in 2008 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and elected vice chairman of the Welsh panel of the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies.

His many other contributions to agriculture include being this year's president of the Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Show, appointed a member of the land-based panel for Deeside College last year and in 2004 he established a successful discussion group in Flintshire for younger milk producers known as "The Udder Group" which is now run by Dairy Co.

In 2001 he was chairman of the International Dairy Federation's standing committee on farm management which published the IDF/FAO Guide to Good Dairy Farming Practices covering various aspects of concern such as animal health, milk hygiene, animal feeding and water, animal welfare and environment.

Announcing the award, FUW president Gareth Vaughan said: "Terrig's contribution to the dairy industry in Wales and the UK throughout his lifetime is immense. He is a very worthy winner of this highly prestigious award."

Farmers attending the Welsh Dairy Show in Carmarthen later this month will be encouraged to seek advice about any mental health issues they may have on the Farmers' Union of Wales stand.

The union has allowed Hywel Dda Health Board's primary care mental health service for Carmarthenshire - who run stress control classes across the county - to share their stand during the show at the United Counties Showground, near Carmarthen, on Tuesday October 19.

The service provides health promotion information around common mental health issues affecting everyone, such as sleep problems, worrying, stress, depression, panic attacks, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

"Due to the rurality of Carmarthenshire a large part of their work is directed at the rural population including the farming community," said FUW's county executive officer Meinir Bartlett.

"They have a permanent stand at Carmarthen Mart where they offer advice and information. The service is a new initiative and a significant challenge with the stigma attached to mental health issues as well as the culture that the farming community perpetuates.

"By having a presence at various farming and rural events across the county they hope to have some impact towards increasing awareness."

A representative of Davis Meade Property Consultants, one of the leading firms of chartered surveyors and valuers in the country dealing with agricultural dispute resolution ranging from landlord and tenant advice to compulsory purchase negotiations, will also be on the FUW stand during the show to discuss issues with individual farmers.

The steep decline in Welsh dairy farmers will continue so long as supermarkets continue to take a bigger share of the profits from milk sales, the Farmers' Union of Wales warned today.

New figures released by DairyCo revealed dairy farmers in Wales and England received an average 23.8p per litre for their milk during 2009/2010 compared to 25.8p the previous year. But the retailers' share of the price went up from 18.8p to 22.4p.

"These figures underline our fears for the traditional Welsh dairy farm which has declined sharply in numbers from 2,727 in 2006 to 2,094 last year," said the union's milk and dairy produce committee chairman Eifion Huws.

"And compounding the problem is the fact that the average farmgate price paid to Welsh farmers is actually much lower than the Wales-England average, because the majority of our milk goes into the cheese market."

"We now have to ask whether the prices paid to Welsh dairy farmers are sufficient to give them a sustainable return to enable them to invest in their business and continue to supply milk in an efficient and profitable manner.

"The Welsh dairy farm has been the backbone of community life in much of rural Wales for years and years but these figures don't provide any comfort for the future.

"I fear that the decline in dairy farm numbers will continue until there is a change of heart by the retailers and they start paying producers the kind of prices they badly need to allow them to fully meet their costs and invest for the future."