Current food labelling regulations are inadequate and vague, Carmarthenshire West & South Pembrokeshire's Conservative MP Simon Hart told a recent meeting of the Farmers' Union of Wales' Carmarthenshire county executive committee.

"An Ombudsman, when in place, will deal with this issue," added Mr Hart before committee members suggested the FUW should take every opportunity to continue lobbying MPs on the importance of correct labelling.

Mr Hart, former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, gave details of his background which is closely linked to the agricultural sector, with some of his close relatives currently farming in Carmarthenshire.

He raised concerns about proposals to reduce the number of MPs as it would be harder to have the voice of Wales heard in Central Government.

He also referred to the work of Defra's red tape Tsar Richard Macdonald who recently urged farmers to have their say on over-regulation.

Mr Hart said Central Government worked in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government who are much closer to electors and the general public.

The issue of hunting was included in the Conservative manifesto, but he believed that this would not be taken further until mid-2015.

Members raised questions and debated a variety of other topics such as Defra's bovine TB-badger control consultation and environmental issues such as food production and carbon footprint.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today called for an urgent review of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority's (BBNPA) role after a BBC Wales TV programme highlighted major failings involving its planning department.

Speaking after the "Week In, Week Out" documentary was aired on Tuesday evening, the union's Brecon and Radnor county chairman Brian Bowen said: "The programme reiterates numerous concerns raised by the FUW over the years and highlights the fact that our concerns are shared widely by residents and organisations within the National Park.

"There is a real feeling amongst members that the Park Authority does little for those people who live and work here and the documentary provides yet further evidence of the need for a review of the park's role and whether its planning duties should be taken away from it."

FUW county executive officer Aled Jones said he had encountered numerous examples of problems experienced by members.

"In one case a farmer was told an old barn could only be converted to holiday accommodation, and not for habitation by a farm worker and local residents, which is hardly supportive of local communities and employment.

"In another, an officer of the park authority gave a member permission to complete work, only for another officer to write to him eight months later after the work was complete stating that she disagreed with the original decision, and that that the development was a breach of planning control and could be demolished.

"Our member took the case to appeal at a cost of more than £20,000, while the BBNP used public money to employ the services of a barrister to fight a case which they ultimately lost."

Mr Jones said that communication within the planning department seemed to be severely lacking. On several occasions he had written, telephoned and e-mailed them but received no reply.

"When dealing with planning enquiries with Powys County Council I have had a far better experience and have often found officers to be helpful, informative and willing to make site visits when requested."

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones will be the keynote speaker at the annual general meeting of the Farmers' Union of Wales Caernarfonshire county branch, which will take place at Caernarfon Golf Club this Friday, November 5 at 7.30pm.

The event is sponsored by the HSBC bank, and Nigel Davies, HSBC's head of agriculture banking in Wales, will also be speaking at the event.

FUW County Chairman Morgan Jones-Parry said: "It promises to be a very interesting evening, with the controversial Glastir scheme being very high on the agenda. It will also be interesting to hear what HSBC thinks of the new agri-environment scheme."

There will be a question and answer session following the presentations, and the meeting will be an excellent opportunity for members to highlight any concerns they have regarding the Glastir agri-environment scheme and other topical issues.

The annual meeting of the Farmers' Union of Wales Denbighshire county branch will take place at Coleg Llysfasi, Ruthin, on Monday November 8 at 7pm.

The guest speakers are the Welsh Assembly Government's head of CAP reform David Morris and the principal of the recently merged Coleg Llysfasi and Deeside College David Jones.

There will be a question and answer session following their presentations and the meeting will be an excellent opportunity for members to inform Mr Morris of their problems with the Glastir agri-environment scheme.

"We are hoping for a good attendance and anticipate an excellent discussion about Glastir and the merger of Coleg Llysfasi and Deeside College," said FUW county executive officer Marian Jones.

[caption id="attachment_4967" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Robert and Mark Fear[/caption]

Welsh dairy farmers were warned today to check that they are insured for loss of milk supplies due to adverse weather this winter.

"Serious weather conditions are likely to affect the collection of milk produce over the coming months," said the Farmers' Union of Wales business development director Emyr James.

"During last year's harsh winter many farmers suffered losses as milk collection services were disrupted due to hazardous road conditions. Some local authorities may be forced to remove roads from their gritting lists while Ceredigion County Council has already listed some roads that will not receive first-grit treatment.

"Following last winter's experience and the likely impact of local government cutbacks, it is certainly worthwhile assessing the risk of losing milk revenue owing to difficult weather conditions," said Mr James.

Before last winter the previous spell of bad weather to have an impact upon milk collections was in the early 1980s. As a consequence, many farmers have allowed uncollected milk cover to lapse.

"Most farmers have not taken out milk insurance yet, as most of them believe bad weather will not affect them enough to make it worthwhile," said Mr James.

Ceredigion Council decided that over ten roads will be removed from the first-grit route this coming winter such as the B4234 Felinfach to Hendrelas, B4334 Penrhiwpal to Brynhoffnant, C1010 Rhydtir to Gogerddan crossroads and the B4342 to Talsarn.

"Insurance cover is available to cover circumstances outside personal control in which milk is lost, wasted, or spoiled, resulting from non-collection from the purchaser," added Mr James.

"The cover, however, is not only specifically for weather conditions but covers non-collection for any reason beyond human control.

"Looking at the road conditions from last year, it is worthwhile considering insuring against the possibility of milk not being collected this winter."

Organic dairy and beef farmers Robert Fear, 66, his wife Maureen, 64, and their son Mark, 29, of Tynffynnon farm, Cilcennin, Lampeter, who farm around 60 dairy cows, have taken out milk insurance this year to ensure they are covered for the worst case scenario following last winter's problems.

"We had our insurance reviewed last week by our area officer. Some farmers say it is too costly and you just have to take the chance but we were not prepared to take that chance again," said Mr Fear.

Mrs Fear said: "We have lived here for over 13 years and have never experienced such bad weather as we had last winter.

"All of a sudden we heard the milk tanker was not coming because of the state of the roads. As farmers on the same collection route, we were ringing around each other asking if their milk had been collected - and of course it had not.

"You just did not know if it was going to be picked up or not. Then if you had it picked up you did not know when the next collection would be. It was an anxious time while the roads were in this treacherous situation."

Mr Fear added: "We had just seen the New Year in and it was a job to get hold of anyone to speak to. The transport company is based in Whitland and some of their drivers could not get into work because of the bad weather.

"Now that we have taken the insurance out it is complete peace of mind. We don't have to worry now if the milk does not get collected. It is still going to be hard, when you have made the effort to milk the cows you don't want to pull the plug on it."

Mrs Fear added: "We are only a small family farm. If the money does not come in because of wasted milk collections, bearing in mind the low milk prices as well, we are in trouble if we lose two or three collections in a month."

[caption id="attachment_4964" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Heidi Williams outside the FUW marquee where the Land Army exhibition was staged at last year's Anglesey county show[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales has issued an SOS to all former Land Army girls to get in touch so that they can share their memories at a special afternoon tea reunion.

Last year the union's Anglesey county branch held a Land Army exhibition at the island's county show. During the Second World War many girls stayed in hostels on the island at Menai Bridge, Valley and Llanerchymedd.

Following the success of the exhibition, FUW county executive officer Heidi Williams is organising the afternoon tea to be held on Thursday November 25 at the Swallow Falls Hotel, Betws y Coed.

"The event is being held to thank the ladies for their kind contribution during the war and for tending to the land whilst the men were in action," said Mrs Williams.

"As in World War One, young women were called on to work on the land and the Women's Land Army (WLA) was re-formed in July 1939. Their work was vital as so many men were sent to war.

"The work was hard and the young women usually worked in isolated communities. Many lived in hostels or old farm workers' cottages, often without running water, electricity or gas."

Over 30 entries including stories and recollections from Land Army girls were received for last year's exhibition from as far as the Isle of Wight and Yorkshire.

The winner was Sybil Hammond of Sandown on the Isle of Wight who won a milking stool engraved with the FUW logo.

Mrs Williams said: "The tea room will be transformed into a war time theme and we would like to ask the ladies to bring a keepsake or something special from their Land Army days so that they can share their stories and recollections."

The union's other North Wales county executive officers have agreed to help organise and transport women to the event from their areas.

Any former Land Army members wishing to attend the tea should, at their earliest convenience, contact Mrs Williams at the FUW's Anglesey office on 01248 750250 or e-mail her at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sybil Hammond's recollections of her time at the Menai Bridge Land Army hostel can be found on the web at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/62/a8702462.shtml