The Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held a successful bingo evening in aid of the DPJ Foundation, raising over £700 on the night.

The DPJ Foundation was set up in July 2016 following the death of Daniel Picton-Jones. The foundation aims to support people in rural communities with poor mental health, especially men in the agricultural sector. 

Agriculture carries one of the highest rates of suicide and with mental health being such a big problem across society the foundation aims to break down the stigma that surrounds mental health and provide support services for those in rural communities.

FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle said: “A big thank you to everyone who came along to support our recent charity bingo, you helped us raise the fantastic sum of £746.01 for the President’s charity, The DPJ Foundation. A big thank you is also extended to Cuckoo Mill Farm for their continued support.”

Both farming unions and the local YFC have come together in Pembrokeshire to ensure that their membership has the opportunity to quiz the prospective parliamentary candidates for the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency at an upcoming General Election hustings. 

The hustings, which will take place on Thursday 28th November at the Wolfscastle Country Hotel at 7.30 pm, will give members the opportunity to hear from the candidates about their respective parties’ policies for agriculture. 

In a joint statement, the organisations noted: “In a period of political uncertainty, where our future trading relationship with the European Union remains unclear, this is an important opportunity for every farmer to quiz their prospective member of parliament on how they view the way forward. 

“With much of the debate centred on national and international issues, these events are also an opportunity for our farming members to engage with the candidates about some of the more local issues that affect their livelihood and community. 

“We would encourage members of the farming community to take up this opportunity to pose questions to those that seek to represent them in the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency in the next parliament at Westminster.”

Wales’ two farming Unions - NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales -  have come together in the Vale of Glamorgan to ensure that their membership has the opportunity to quiz the general election hopefuls in an agricultural husting event. 

The details for  the events are as follows: 

The Bear Hotel, Cowbridge - Wednesday, 27 November, 7.30 pm

In a joint statement, the organisations noted: “In a period of political uncertainty, where our future trading relationship with the European Union remains unclear, this is an important opportunity for every farmer to quiz their prospective member of parliament on how they view the way forward.

“With much of the debate centred on national and international issues, these events are also an opportunity for our farming members to engage with the candidates about some of the more local issues that affect their livelihood and community.

“We would encourage members of the farming community to take up this opportunity to pose questions to those that seek to represent them in the next parliament at Westminster.”

Wales’ two farming Unions - NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales -  have come together in Denbigh and Flintshire to ensure that their membership has the opportunity to quiz the general election hopefuls in an agricultural husting event. 

The details for the events are as follows: 

Llysfasi College, Lecture theatre, Ruthin Road, Llysfasi, Ruthin LL15 2LB - Monday 9 December at 7.30 pm

In a joint statement, the organisations noted: “In a period of political uncertainty, where our future trading relationship with the European Union remains unclear, this is an important opportunity for every farmer to quiz their prospective member of parliament on how they view the way forward.

“With much of the debate centred on national and international issues, these events are also an opportunity for our farming members to engage with the candidates about some of the more local issues that affect their livelihood and community.

“We would encourage members of the farming community to take up this opportunity to pose questions to those that seek to represent them in the next parliament at Westminster.”

Both farming unions and the local YFCs have come together in North Wales to ensure that their membership has the opportunity to quiz the general election hopefuls in a series of four agricultural husting events in the area. 

NFU Cymru, the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) and the Young Farmers Federations have worked together to arrange electoral hustings for Ynys Môn, Arfon, Meirionnydd Dwyfor and Aberconwy constituencies, inviting all candidates to participate.

The details of the events are as follows: 

Arfon – Wednesday 27th November at Caeathro Village Hall, Caeathro at 7.30pm; 

Ynys Môn - Tuesday 3rd of December 2019 at 5:30pm at Cartio Môn, Bodedern; 

Aberconwy – Wednesday 4th of December 2019 at 7:30pm at Elwy Room, Glasdir Centre, Llanrwst;

Meirionnydd Dwyfor – Thursday 5th of December 2019 at 7:30pm at Porthmadog Football Club.

Farmers’ Union of Wales President Glyn Roberts stressed the urgent need for an independent review of the current bovine TB evidence base, with a view to assessing the suitability of current wildlife control measures and to make recommendations on future badger culling policies in Wales, when he met with First Minister Mark Drakeford and Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths.

The special meeting was arranged at the Union’s request and followed a series of meetings with the Minister and officials in recent months looking mainly at the science around TB management.

In setting the scene, the President reminded the First Minister of the human suffering and mental pain that TB caused in farming communities and the frustration that little was being done to successfully address the TB reservoir in wildlife. Statistically, in the last 5 years more cattle have been slaughtered in Wales as a result of TB than the total reported population of Badgers in Wales. 

The focus of the discussion was to gain commitment from the Welsh Government to an innovative approach to managing the scourge of TB as the current management plans were providing limited, if any, success.

“Farmers need hope, hope that this dreadful disease will be dealt with and removed from our landscape,” said Glyn Roberts. 

“To that end we asked the First Minister to consider funding a thoroughly innovative approach that takes best practice from other areas of society facing big challenges.