The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging people to remember the distress fireworks and sky lanterns can cause to livestock and pets this year.

With bonfire night fast approaching and the understandable excitement after the cancellation of so many displays last year, the organisation was keen to wish people a great time but reminded them of the dangers posed by bonfires and fireworks.

A Meirionnydd sheep farmer has raised industry concerns with Mid and West Wales Member of the Senedd Jane Dodds. Welcoming the MS to his farm was Robert Wyn Evans, who farms at Sylfaen Farm, Barmouth, Gwynedd.

Sylfaen Farm is situated approximately 2 miles from Barmouth and extends to approximately 1200 acres, with a further 120 acres farmed at Tudweiliog on the Lleyn Peninsula. The vast majority of the land at Sylfaen is mountain and rough grazing, with only 105 acres being improved land, of which approx 55 acres kept for silage. 

Robert looks after 1050 breeding ewes, mainly Welsh Mountain, but also Aberfield X. All lambs are fattened and sold through the live market. A herd of 40 suckler cows are also kept, with the young cattle sold as stores between 18-22 months at Dolgellau market. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ (FUW) Milk and Dairy Produce Committee has highlighted the impact the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations in their current form will have on profitable farming and milk processing.

The Water Resources ‘NVZ’ Regulations were passed by the Senedd in March 2021 with the first set of changes being applied from 1 April 2021. Nevertheless, the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Senedd Committee is currently in the process of reviewing the regulations following a vote shortly after new Senedd members were elected in May.

Following a meeting of the FUW Milk and Dairy Produce Committee held on Wednesday (20 October), newly appointed Chairman Dei Davies of Moor Farm, Flintshire said: “As a Committee we’ve welcomed the decision by the Senedd for the regulations to be reviewed and the FUW has submitted its written evidence.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is once again looking to recognise an individual who has made a great contribution towards the development of the dairy industry and has become an integral part of the dairy industry in Wales.

To recognise such a person the Union is seeking nominations for its FUW Outstanding Service to the Welsh Dairy Industry award. The winner will be announced, and the presentation made, at this year’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair on Monday 29 November.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has ensured that issues concerning changes to Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) remain at the forefront of politician’s minds.

Arfon MP, Liz Saville-Roberts and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS grasped the opportunity to visit Chwilog farm Mur Clwt Lloer - farmed by Caernarfonshire FUW Chairman, John Hughes -   to see the potential issues first hand.

John farms the 75 hectare farm which is all laid out to pasture in partnership with his father William Hughes and wife, Sian. Currently, they raise 120 replacement dairy heifers for a large dairy herd nearby.

Under current NVZ regulations in other UK and EU Nations and previous regulations covering 2.4 % of land in Wales, farmers with more than 80% of their holding designated as grassland have the ability to apply for a derogation to increase the annual livestock manure nitrate whole farm limit from 170kg N per ha to 250kg N per ha.

The agreement of a trade deal with New Zealand shows a willingness by the UK Government to undermine UK farming and food security in return for negligible benefits to the economy, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has said.

Responding to the announcement on Wednesday (20 October) that a UK-NZ trade deal has been agreed in principle FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “The UK Government’s own figures show that the economic benefits for the UK of this deal are microscopic. That’s not surprising given the population of New Zealand is lower than that of Scotland.

“The winners in this deal will clearly be New Zealand as it allows them to up their exports of food to the UK, representing a major threat to Welsh and GB farmers as well as to our food security.”