[caption id="attachment_4816" align="aligncenter" width="200"] FUW president Gareth Vaughan - left - congratulates John Price on being selected as a life member in March 2007.[/caption]

The death has occurred of Farmers' Union of Wales life member John Price, a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies (FRAgS) and former president of the union's Carmarthenshire county branch.

Mr Price, of Dafadfa Isaf, Gwynfe, near Llangadog, died, aged 72, at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, on Tuesday July 6. He leaves his wife, two children and five grandchildren.

Mr Price ran a 144-acre hill farm where he kept beef cattle and sheep. He also rented 66 acres of land and had grazing rights on the Black Mountain.

After leaving school in 1953, he worked on the family farm with his late father until 1968 when he went to assist with the running of the Earl of Ducie's estate in South Gloucestershire. He returned to Dafadfa Isaf in 1981.

Club chairman of Gwynfe YFC in 1960 and secretary of the East Carmarthen Lamb Group, he started taking part in FUW activities in 1983 when he became Carmarthenshire county delegate on the union's national livestock, wool and marts committee and maintained a regular attendance until his death.

He was the committee's chairman from 1991 to 1996, Carmarthenshire county executive committee vice chairman and chairman from 1989 to 1993 and county president from 1993 to 1995.

Between 1993 and 2004 he represented Carmarthenshire on the South Wales regional committee of the British Wool Marketing Board and served as its chairman in 1994-95. From 1991 to 2002 he was a member of the National Sheep Association's Wales committee.

Since 1993 he has been a member of the Wales Land Tribunal Panel and chairman of Gwynfe Show committee twice (1997-1998 and 2003 to date). In 2003 he was made an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies (ARAgS) for his contribution to farming and the rural community and became a Fellow in 2008.

He was made an FUW life member in 2007. "John's contribution to the FUW, agriculture and his local community has been exceptional and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him," said the union's Carmarthenshire county executive officer Meinir Bartlett.

The funeral will take place on Monday July 12 when a public service at Capel Maen, Gwynfe, at 1.15pm will be followed by a cremation service at Llanelli Crematorium at 3.30pm. Family flowers only but donations in lieu for Towy Ward, Glangwili Hospital, can be made via Bryan Williams, Coach and Horses, Manordeilo, tel: 01550 777441.

THE Welsh Assembly Government's announcement to commit millions of pounds rolling out basic broadband to most of Wales' "not-spots" was described by Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today as excellent news - even though it comes eight years after the union began campaigning for better provision in rural areas.

Mr Vaughan, who does not have broadband where he lives at Dolfor, near Newtown, said: "We've been told our phone line is too antiquated yet, increasingly, farmers are expected to supply information on cattle movements and so on via the internet but officials sometimes don't understand when you say you haven't got a connection.

"There are other inconveniences too - such as my grandchildren having to go to the library to do their homework via the internet."

And a few months ago the union slammed HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) "absurd" decision to force farmers in areas with no or poor broadband provision to submit their VAT returns on-line from 1 April this year.

Clwyd West MP David Jones, now parliamentary under-secretary for Wales, stepped in and protested to HMRC's director general Dave Hartnett stressing there are many areas of North Wales, including Gwytherin and Cwmpenanner in his constituency, which have no satisfactory broadband access.

The union also received support from website ISPreview.co.uk - an independent source of Internet Service Provider (ISP) information, listings and reviews since 1999 - which stated HMRC's move "appears absurd" at a time when the Government's own Universal Service Commitment (USC), which aims to deliver a minimum broadband ISP speed of at least 2Mbps to virtually every household in the UK by 2012, had not even begun to be implemented.

"It's obvious that the HMRC don't fully appreciate the problems facing farmers and other businesses in rural communities like Powys," said Mr Vaughan. "But we are hoping for better things from the Assembly's scheme which is due to start later this summer."

Initial funding of around £2m has been allocated by the Welsh Assembly Government for its new scheme and discussions are also under way to access European assistance from the Rural Development Plan (RDP). Support will be available for up to a maximum of £1,000 for individual premises.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said the scheme continues the Assembly Government's commitment to provide improved services for rural areas and, particularly access to the internet which is critical for those living and working across Wales.

There are now about 1,800 people registered on the Assembly Government's broadband "not spot" database. "It is vitally important that the Assembly's efforts to acquire European assistance from the RDP reach a rapid and successful conclusion," Mr Vaughan added.

More than £10,000 was raised at a promise auction and barbecue organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales' Montgomeryshire branch last Saturday evening (July 3) to show support for the family of a staff member whose daughter is suffering from cancer.

Sixty-eight lots went under the hammer during the event at Cefn Coch Inn, Cefn Coch, near Welshpool, and the top price of £320 was paid for the use of a flat in Cardiff for any weekend - including rugby international weekends - donated by Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates.

A tour of the House of Commons with lunch or dinner, donated by Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, made £220; a limited edition Corgi replica of an M E Edwards & Son livestock transporter signed by Richard Edwards, proprietor of the Llanfair Caereinion transport company, sold for £200; while a British Lions rugby shirt signed by Welsh legend Phil Bennett and given by the FUW went for £140.

The total raised from the auction - efficiently conducted by Glandon Lewis, of Welshpool auctioneers Norman R Lloyd - was a brilliant £6,520 which, together with the proceeds of a barbecue, raffle and various donations, was boosted to a massive £10,161 which will be donated to local breast cancer support facilities.

"I'm sure the family of FUW Montgomery area officer Tony Williams whose youngest daughter, 31-year-old Sally, is currently receiving treatment for breast cancer will want me to offer their warm and genuine thanks to each one of the 300-plus people who attended," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan today.

"It was truly heartwarming to witness the generosity of the people of Montgomeryshire and beyond who helped make it such a hugely successful event," added Mr Vaughan.

An authentic British Lions rugby shirt signed by Welsh legend Phil Bennett will be among an array of items offered at a promise auction organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales' Montgomeryshire branch on Saturday evening (July 3) to show support for the family of a staff member whose daughter is suffering from cancer.

FUW Montgomery area officer Tony Williams' youngest daughter, 31-year-old Sally, is currently receiving treatment for breast cancer and the branch is holding the auction and barbecue at Cefn Coch Inn, Cefn Coch, near Welshpool, at 7.30pm.

Bennett made eight Test appearances for the British Lions during two Southern Hemisphere tours - to South Africa in 1974 and New Zealand in 1977 when he captained the side. His 50-yard try against Pretoria in South Africa was a career highlight.

The successful bidder will receive the shirt together with a Certificate of Authenticity from the British Sports Museum and a photograph of Bennett signing the shirt.

Other desirable auction items are a limited edition Corgi replica of an M E Edwards & Son livestock transporter signed by Richard Edwards, proprietor of the Llanfair Caereinion transport company and a voucher for one person to attend a full falconry day at Mid Wales Falconry.

For details of the other items in the auction contact FUW Montgomeryshire county executive officer Susan Jones on 01686 626889 (office hours) or 01686 688285.

Primary school pupils in Pembrokeshire are being invited by the county's Farmers' Union of Wales branch to enter a competition in a bid to improve their knowledge of life down on the farm.

"There is widespread concern about the way children, young people, and their families, have become disassociated from where their food comes from and do not know what is required for a healthy diet and lifestyle," said county chairman David Miles, of Barnsley Farm, Crowhill, Haverfordwest.

"They are also unaware of the many opportunities in the countryside for leisure and social activities, and for employment. We hope our competition will go some way towards addressing these concerns."

The competition - sponsored by Carmarthen & Pumsaint Farmers' Ltd, J E Lawrence & Son Ltd and the FUW 200+ Club - has three age categories.

Category 1 asks children up to 7 years of age to hand draw a picture of a farm scene. Paints, pencils, crayons or felt tips can be used and the size must not exceed a standard sized sheet of A4 paper.

Category 2 wants 7 to 11 year-olds to make a model of a farm animal. Any materials can be used but the size must not exceed 30cm by 30cm by 30cm.

Category 3 urges all pupils up to 11 years of age to write a poem in English or Welsh entitled "The Farm". It must not exceed 20 lines in length.

The winner of each category will receive a £10 gift voucher for themselves, a cheque for £30 together with £40 worth of Carmarthen & Pumsaint Farmers' Ltd vouchers for their school garden, and free admittance to the Pembrokeshire County Show to receive their prizes on a day to be confirmed.

The winning entries and a selection of other entries will be placed on display at the FUW marquee at the Show.

The closing date for entries is Friday July 23. The child's name, class number and school name must be included on all entries and out of term contact details must also be provided for the school to enable the winner to be notified.

All entries should be posted or delivered to the FUW County Office, 3 North Street, Haverfordwest, SA61 2JE, marked "Schools Competition".

For further enquiries contact the county office on 01437 762913.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed confirmation from the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) that the Farming Connect   subsidised advisory service can offer an 80% subsidy on the cost of mentoring and advice towards applying to enter the Glastir land management scheme.

"Whilst consultants cannot be used to fill in the actual forms, they can be used for mentoring, advice and guidance," said the FUW's land use and parliamentary committee chairman Richard Vaughan.

"We welcome this step as the union has been pushing for this service to be more pro-active in helping farmers access Glastir."

WAG revealed Farming Connect cannot fund consultants to complete applications on behalf of farmers for Glastir -but they can help with  the points calculation, scorecard  and advise or mentor on impact and management options that a business could consider.

Examples of mentoring and advice farmers can receive through the Whole Farm Plan (WFP) and Farm Advisory Service (FAS) to help their business make an informed decision to apply for Glastir include: assessment of habitats, species, biodiversity, historical features on the farm and appropriate management of these habitats and features.

Other examples could include advice on options for the farm and changes to the farming systems - e.g. identifying risks to the environment, protection and enhancement of habitats and features, and any changes to the farm system that may be required.

Throughout July, August and September Farming Connect will run a series of Glastir training events (see table below).

Farming Connect Events

Farming and forestry families are invited to attend the following events.  You are advised to contact the event organiser beforehand to confirm the arrangements.