Whether it’s from forestry, demographic changes in the community or governments' policies, our remotest areas face challenges and potential threats like never before.
More than ever, farmers in Wales are charged with safeguarding land and communities. Cwm Penmachno is one such community.
Originally a basin flanked by whaleback hills at the top end of the Conwy valley, Cwm Penmachno housed a hardworking and thriving agricultural community of self-sustaining crofts and smallholdings.
Here Huw looks after traditional breeds of Welsh Black Cattle and Balwen sheep. Describing the role they play in managing the habitats and nature reserve he says: “They’re really key to what we do here. We farm for biodiversity, that’s the reason we’re here. But farming for biodiversity you have to have livestock, the two are inextricably linked.”
Not intense in livestock numbers with just 70 head of cattle during the summer and 60 breeding ewes, the farm has been organic for the last 21 years. With limited housing for the sheep and cattle, Huw uses the small herd and flock to its full potential on the 360 acres of permanent grassland.
The Chuckling Goat launched in 2014 when Texan former radio talk show host Shann Nix-Jones joined Welsh farmer Richard Jones, whose cultural roots are immersed deep in his 25-acre farm, near Brynhoffnant, Llandysul, to produce kefir from goat milk.
The company is now a thriving enterprise with customers across the globe. But despite the obvious temptations to move to an industrial unit closer to the transport infrastructure, the couple has resisted in order to develop their processing capacity on the original farm.
Typically, Christmas is a joyous time spent with friends and family and is something to look forward to.
However, many people find Christmas to be a challenging time of the year and something that can lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
The question, then, is what causes such mental health issues to arise.
One of the most common causes of mental health issues at Christmas is financial difficulties. Many people want to be able to get nice gifts for their loved ones and have a big Christmas dinner.
Farmers’ Union of Wales members from Gwent and Glamorgan, as well as Union officials, met with Regional MS for South Wales East, Natasha Asghar, at Monmouth Livestock Centre to discuss critical issues facing the industry.
Speaking at the meeting, FUW members highlighted that the way the industry is being portrayed a lot of the time is a far cry from what happens on farms in Wales. FUW Gwent and Glamorgan County Executive Officer Sharon Pritchard said: “People’s perception about our industry here in Wales is often misguided by social media and also by the main press outlets and adverts on the TV. At times also our politicians.
Farmers’ Union of Wales officials have described discussions with Senedd Member for Ogmore Huw Irranca-Davies as extremely positive.
Top of the agenda during Friday's meeting were local procurement and free school meals for children, and future agricultural policies.
Speaking after the meeting, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We had a very positive meeting with Huw Irranca-Davies and it was good to talk about the many issues and uncertainties facing our industry.”
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