The Farmers’ Union of Wales has cautiously welcomed the recent UK Milk Purchasing Code draft policy. However there are some reservations regarding farmer-owned cooperative milk processors.

FUW Milk and Dairy Produce committee chairman Dei Davies  said: “Hufenfa De Arfon, ARLA, First Milk and many more prove that co-operatives work. The new code should not put Co-operatives in a position where they are unable to re-invest profits and grow different parts of the business together with providing a long term economically viable farmgate price to benefit the co-operative as a whole.

“While it is not expected for milk purchasers to pay more to the farmer than what the market is worth at the time, neither is it right that they take advantage of farmers who are on fixed term contracts e.g 12 months to help them strike deals with big retailers to undercut other dairies.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has launched its call for action on carbon trading, to ensure that Wales’ family farms are part of the solution to achieving Net Zero instead of a casualty of carbon offsetting by powerful players.

FUW Policy Officer Teleri Fielden said: “In order to limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels, countries and companies across the world have been racing to pledge their own ‘net-zero’ targets or claims. 

“This has led to a surge in individuals and businesses seeking to offset their carbon emissions via the Voluntary Carbon Market. Consequently, an increasing number of farms in Wales are being purchased by companies in order to plant trees and offset their own emissions, or sell the associated carbon credits in the future.

Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) members and officials recently met with Anglesey MP Virginia Crosbie to discuss the most urgent issues affecting the industry. Hosting the visit was FUW Anglesey county chairman William Hughes, who farms 45 commercial suckler cows and a flock of 350 ewes on the 240 acre farm near Holyhead.

At the top of the agenda of discussion were the trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, the Northern Ireland protocol and the agricultural budget allocation for Wales. Union officials also took the opportunity to raise the issue of procurement for school meals on the island.

Speaking after the visit, FUW Anglesey county chairman William Hughes said: “We discussed many important issues with Virginia Crosbie here today and I thank her for her time. Anglesey is all about agriculture and tourism and safeguarding those is as important as attracting new industry to the island.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is reminding farmers to keep an eye out for their Glastir contract extension offer.

Following delays in the issuing of contract extensions Rural Payments Wales have now started to issue contracts since the end of November via RPW Online. 

FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle said: “While Rural Payments Wales had previously advised that the contracts needed to be accepted within 21 days of issue they have now confirmed that farmers have until the end of January 2022 to accept or decline their contract offer.

Well known Pembrokeshire dairy farmer, Dai Miles, who farms just outside of Haverfordwest has been selected as the winner of the 2021 Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) award for the person who has made an outstanding contribution to the Welsh Dairy industry. 

The award recognises an individual who has made a great contribution and has become an integral part of the dairy industry in Wales. The judges were impressed with the contributions Mr Miles has made and continues to make to the dairy industry.

Presenting the award at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair on Monday 29 November, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Dai Miles can only be described as a stalwart of our dairy industry. His passion, dedication and enthusiasm for all things dairy is inspiring. 

Annest O’Neill of Ysgol Treferthyr, Criccieth and Rhian Morgan of Ysgol Llandinam, Newtown beat off competition from hundreds of entries from across Wales in the Farmers’ Union of Wales Christmas card design competition. Their designs were chosen as the winners of the Welsh version and the English version respectively.Now, both girls’ designs which had to include a scene from a farm will be printed and sold by the Union in aid of the DPJ Foundation which supports mental health in farming communities. The winners received Gift Cards as a prize as well as a cash prize for their schools.

Annest, who won the Welsh version, submitted a design of a Christmas scene of farm animals receiving a gift from Santa and a special Christmas box addressed to the Union.

 Rhian’s design features an agricultural  twist on a traditional nativity scene with farm animals asleep in the manger under the legend, ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the farm, every animal was sleeping, it was so calm.’

 Though Annest was unable to attend, Rhian travelled to the Royal Welsh Winter Fair to be awarded her prize from FUW President, Glyn Roberts.

 Mr Roberts said: ”I was extremely impressed with the standard of work this year, and especially that of Annest and Rhian. There was a lot of innovative thinking and artistic talent on display and I was proud the FUW could arrange this, and for such a  worthy cause.”