It was going to be a day like any other for Esther Howie and her flock of sheep from Anglesey. Until lunch time at least, when she went for her routine check-up on the family Jacob's flock. Something wasn’t as it was supposed to be - the sheep had been badly injured.

The Howie family moved to a holding near Rhosmeirch 7 years ago and have put a lot of time, effort and money into improving and maintaining the land. Both Esther and her husband Neil also work extra jobs to support their life-long dream of having a smallholding. 

Esther already had a flock of pedigree Jacob sheep when they moved to the island and has since added a few Shetland sheep into the mix. Having been busy building up her Jacob flock for over 12 years now, she breeds primarily for wool to support her start-up business Tyddynys. As such, she only lambs a few selected ewes each year, carefully choosing which ewes to put to which ram for improving fleece for the craft industry. 

So it came as a huge shock when she found out that her flock had been attacked by a dog, leaving her devastated and the business hanging in the balance.

Speaking from her holding, she says: “My main holding is on Anglesey, but a while back I was offered a piece of land to graze near Bangor - great piece for my hill sheep, who are really not that impressed with the terrain at home. 

“It’s a good sized piece of land with a nice big shelter. The landlady lives on one side and a friend on the other to keep an eye on the ewes for me when I can’t be there. I moved my Jacob ewes up there for the winter and they were thriving.  

“Until January this year. I went up for my usual visit during my lunch hour at work and noticed that a mule ewe - my landlady’s adopted pet lamb that now lives with us - had fresh blood coming through her fleece.” 

Not sure what had happened but suspecting the sheep had been attacked Esther checked the field. She said: “It looked like one of the lambs had been attacked, but we’ve never had any experience of this to date. 

“The gate into the field is locked and it is the only entrance. The field runs parallel to the A55 so there would be no reason for anyone to be in there. I thought maybe the ewe had been caught in the hedge or fence somewhere and injured herself. I walked the full perimeter of the field checking for fleece in the hedges - knowing that this was going to be unlikely as we had only recently had them cut.” 

About two thirds of her way around she found a large area of grass in the centre of the field that was strewn with clumps of fleece. There was really no mistaking what had happened. 

“I contacted the police and was quite shaken that this could have happened in a seemingly safe and protected area. I had 11 ewes in that field - 4 of them had injuries - significant injuries that I couldn’t treat with a bit of spray alone. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is reminding members to follow the latest advice from Public Health Wales and Wales NHS on coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to minimise disease spread and reduce the risk of infection.  

Up-to-date information can be found here:  

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ 

https://phw.nhs.wales/news/public-health-wales-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “There is a huge amount of misinformation being published online, so it is important that advice from legitimate sources is followed.”  

Mr Roberts’ comments came after Twitter revealed it had recently had to take down a series of posts that were from a fake hospital giving out false advice. 

Some disease experts have suggested we are still to reach the peak season for coronavirus but hope to delay and flatten the peak, which will reduce the pressure on NHS Wales and minimise the impact of the virus.

“Should a member contact coronavirus, or be affected in some other way and there is a subsequent impact on the ability to undertake daily farm business then the FUW can look at this on a case-by-case basis and will provide support where possible,” said Glyn Roberts.

FUW Head of Policy Dr Nick Fenwick added: “We are liaising with the Welsh Government on what changes can be made in order to help the industry to complete and submit their SAF forms this year, during what can only be described as extraordinary circumstances. 

FUW Insurance Services Ltd. has recognised its top performers with a selection of awards.

Scooping the 2019 ‘FUWIS Business Development’ award was Dafydd Evans, based in Ceredigion, who has had an exceptional year for growth and retention of clients and policies. 

FUW Insurance Services Ltd. Business Development Manager Jackie Burrows said: “Dafydd has had a fantastic year. He delivered excellent customer service to new and existing clients across the agricultural and commercial insurance markets and is therefore rightly recognised with this special award.”

Also recognised for his achievements was Glamorgan based Account Executive Ashley Yeo, who was presented with the 2019 ‘FUWIS Best Managed Portfolio’ award.

“Ashley has delivered excellent organic growth, retention and customer service through new and existing clients and policies gained across various business sectors. He is highly regarded and fully deserves this award,” said Jackie Burrows.

Recognised for going above and beyond was Aberystwyth based account handler Claire Short, who was presented with the 2019 ‘FUWIS Account Handler’ award.

A farming family from South Wales has shared concerns about the future of farming with local MP Alun Cairns in light of the ongoing uncertainty on trade deals, food imports and the lack of frameworks in the UK.

Gaynor and Rhodri Davies moved from West Wales in 1995 to Rosedew Farm, Llantwit Major, and have set up a number of businesses to diversify and compliment the farm. With their three children, they run a number of businesses on the farm.

There is a 295 strong herd consisting of many breeds including Aberdeen Angus, Hereford Cross, Saler and British Blues. The home bred beef is slaughtered at the local slaughterhouse Maddock and brought back to the farm to supply another business The Farmers Pantry Butchers with shops in Llantwit Major and Pugh’s Garden Village in Radyr. Farmers Pantry also cater for another family run business - Rosedew Farm Wedding Venue.

With his son Dafi-Sion, Rhodri grows a variety of crops on the farm including sugar beet, wheat, barley, maize, potatoes as well as hay/silage. Rhodri and Gaynor also own and manage Acorn Campsite and hire many local people to work here. 

Talking to the MP about the Agriculture Bill and food imports, Rhodri said: “We are very concerned that the Bill does nothing to ensure food imported to the UK meets UK standards - despite ministerial assurances that imported food would meet our standards.  

“We work very hard and to very strict rules and regulations. Some of the food that could land on our supermarket shelves will have been produced to standards that are illegal here. 

“It makes these food items far cheaper but it doesn’t protect our consumers and it also doesn’t protect us as food producers, who are committed to keeping up standards. 

“Our way of producing food in a safe and sustainable way must be protected.” 

Adding to their concerns of cheap food imports, is the lack of frameworks which would ensure a level playing field across the UK.

Gaynor says: “We need frameworks to keep the UK's 'home market' working properly and fairly. We will already have to compete with farmers in Europe so it is essential that this Government prevents unfair competition between producers in different parts of the UK.”

FUW Glamorgan County Chairman Richard Walkers added: “The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Order illustrates our fears: It removes the EU Pillar 1 financial ceilings mainly to allow Scotland to pay more money to farmers following Lord Bew’s review of payments. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the ambitions of the Veterinary School which was launched in Aberystwyth today (28 February). 

The Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science forms part of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences and will offer a new Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree offered jointly by Aberystwyth University and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). 

Students on the course will have use of a new Veterinary Education Centre on Penglais Campus which represents and investment of £1 million and partly funded by alumni donations. The school will welcome its first students in 2021.  

Speaking after the launch, FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright said: “We welcome this significant step forward in protecting and improving animal health in Welsh livestock. 

“The launch of this new vet school represents significant research and development into animal health issues of importance to the Welsh farming sector. It is hoped that the centre will provide an integrated approach to disease diagnosis and elimination. 

“This an exciting opportunity for the farming sector and we remain keen to work with members of the school to help safeguard livestock health, identify industry priorities, reduce losses and improve livestock performance through better health.”  

The FUW has repeatedly expressed concern about the shortage of large animal veterinary practitioners in Wales and the Union is therefore pleased to see the launch of this centre of veterinary expertise in mid-Wales. 

“Alongside providing research into livestock health, we hope that the programme will increase the veterinary skills base available to our members and will ultimately raise the number of veterinary professionals in Wales,” added Dr Wright. 

FUW Insurance Services Ltd (FUWIS) has appointed Guto Bebb as its new Managing Director.

Mr Bebb who hails from Caernarfon, Gwynedd is the ex-MP for Aberconwy and was previously an Under Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister for Defence Procurement. 

Before starting his political career Mr. Bebb was a business consultant and company director. His commercial experience stood him in good stead as a member of the Public Accounts Committee at Westminster and in managing the multi-million procurement budget of the Ministry of Defence.

In welcoming his appointment, Tom Jones, Chair of FUWIS, said: “It’s a great pleasure to have Guto on board. FUWIS is a growing company which provides key services to the agriculture sector in Wales. 

“With Guto at its head I’m confident that we will see that growth continuing. We pride ourselves on providing a high-quality service that is also close to our customers in their varied communities across Wales. We have found a new head who understands this basic relationship and will know how to build on that existing firm foundation.”

Glyn Roberts, President of the FUW (Farmers’ Union of Wales) added: “FUWIS’s services are a key component of the services that we as a Union offer to not only our members but to the rural community in its entirety. I know that Guto understands the agriculture sector in Wales and will know how to shape future services to meet their needs. I look forward greatly to working with him.”

Guto Bebb commented: “It’s good to be back amidst the business hubbub of Wales. This is a new exciting challenge which I look forward to embracing enthusiastically.”

Mr. Bebb will take on his new role at FUWIS on 6 April.