A few miles outside  Rhayader, in Mid-Wales, nestled between the Elan valley and the river Wye, is Nannerth Fawr farm, home to Andre and Alison Gallagher. The farm house is one field from the 2 mile river frontage and the land stretches from the river to the common hill land. It’s diverse ground and the 200 acre farm includes 103 acres of grassland, including wetland areas, 62 acres of wood pasture, and 30 acres of woodland, in 9 separate enclosures. The couple currently farm 200 sheep, keep a few horses and poultry, as well as Boer goats for meat. 

Andre and Alison bought the farm over 30 years ago, by sealed tender. With no previous experience in farming the couple embarked on a steep learning curve. Alison recalls: “The farm was in a derelict state when it was bought. We didn’t know we were going to be successful until the day we took it over and it was a bit of a shock as lambing started the following day here on the farm. We were plunged straight into outdoor lambing but managed reasonably well I think. It helped a lot having friends and neighbours for farming advice and support.”

As well as improving the farm and renovating the farm buildings and house, the couple have worked to maintain diverse habitats and support biodiversity on the farm. When they bought the farm a lot of woodland already existed, which they fenced off, as well as creating further woodland over the years. The existing ancient woodlands, with mainly oaks, were therefore protected and in 2013 the couple planted another hectare of native species on a small plot of land. 

In 2014 they planted a further 3.5 hectares of native species and enclosed some existing oak woodland which together made 10 hectares. “We left little glades and pathways so the woodland is not too dense.  Altogether that’s 10,000 trees. We’ve also done a lot of hedge restoration,” says Alison.

Members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ Glamorgan Branch have raised concerns regarding the impact of trade deals on the farming community and wider rural community in a meeting with Ogmore MP Chris Elmore.

Farmers from Carmarthenshire recently met with Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price to discuss industry concerns including carbon storage, tree planting and climate change, as well as the future of the industry.

Opening the gates to his organic sheep farm Clyttie Cochion was FUW Carmarthen County Chairman Phil Jones, who farms just outside of Carmarthen, Llanpumsaint.

Rural crime and policing were on the agenda when North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin called in to see FUW President Glyn Roberts at his farm near Betws y Coed.

For Glyn, who farms Dylasau Uchaf, Padog with his daughter Beca Glyn it was an opportunity to discuss the latest initiatives to detect and combat crime such as collars that detect when stock are running, gauges that indicate a diesel tank is being emptied and even pressure pads under quad bikes. 

Relative cuts to Wales' agricultural and rural development funding allocation announced in the latest spending review break the Conservative manifesto pledge not to cut rural funding for the second year running, the Farmers' Union of Wales has said.

The UK budget and spending review announced on Wednesday (27 October) revealed that an average of £300 million a year would be allocated to Wales for agriculture and rural development over the next three financial years.

Nestled in the Snowdonia National Park, a few miles from the historic towns of Beddgelert and Penrhyndeudraeth, is Hafod y Llyn Isaf, a National Trust farm. The 110 acres holding is home to husband and wife team Teleri Fielden and Ned Feesey, 100 sheep and 20 cattle.

The land here is mostly rush pasture and species rich floodplain meadows, as it’s only 3 meters above sea level. Formerly part of the estuary, before the cob was built in Porthmadog, the soil is sandy and presents the young farming couple with some challenges. 

Not from a traditional farming background, Teleri and Ned had to prove themselves to their landlords, the National Trust, to be accepted as the tenant farmers here. Through hard work and determination, the couple have secured a 10 year farm business tenancy. Before moving here, Teleri was farming at Llyndy Isaf at Nantgwynant on a scholarship between the National Trust and the YFC. It was meant to be a one year scholarship to help young farmers get a foot on the ladder but she stayed for 3 years running the 600 acre hill farm, with Welsh mountain sheep and Welsh black cattle and a lot of conservation work.

Teleri said: “Neither me nor Ned grew up on a farm so we had to find either a tenancy, share farming agreement or a council holding and thankfully Hafod y Llyn came up the summer I was leaving Llyndy Isaf as the farm scholar there. We applied for it and went through a long application process and eventually were successful.We both however continue to work off farm as well.”