The Farmers’ Union of Wales has expressed its disappointed at the Information Commissioner's Office ruling that ‘no further action’ is required following the accidental release of personal farm details by Welsh Government.

Both the farm name and the location of those farms selected for Welsh Government badger culling as part of the Refreshed Bovine TB Programme were accidentally released by Welsh Government in July last year following a freedom of information request.   

This information was subsequently posted on social media with calls from some anti-cull extremists to engage in behaviour which could have threatened the safety of farming families.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer, said: “We recognise that Welsh Government have now put procedures in place to reduce the likelihood of this mistake recurring and we hope that lessons really have been learned.  

“However, the lack of a more robust response by the Information Commissioner’s Office will do little to act as a deterrent against future bad practise.

“Welsh Government were aware that the deliberate or inadvertent release of such information was likely to result in targeting by animal rights extremists, including illegal activity and threats being made.”

Aberystwyth University student Emily Smith from Merthyr Mawr has been awarded with the FUW’s Walter Rowlands memorial award.

The award, in memory of FUW county secretary Walter G. Rowlands, who died in service in 1986, is made to an agricultural student resident in Glamorganshire after careful consideration by the Union’s county executive committee.

Not from a farming background, Emily fell in love with the rural lifestyle after moving to the countryside aged 11 and is currently in her final year of reading BSC agriculture with animal science at Aberystwyth University.  

She is actively involved in the Agriculture Society at University and has also been elected onto the committee as its secretary.

As part of her university course Emily spent 14 months on a working placement in New Zealand working on a 530 dairy cow farm and now wishes to pursue her interest in the breeding side of dairy farming.

After graduating, she would like to undertake a career with a breeding genetics company as a Reproductive Management Service Technician.

A warm welcome and mouth-watering smells await those joining the Denbigh and Flint branches of the Farmers’ Union of Wales at a breakfast function, which has been organised as part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week campaign (January 21 – January 27).

The event is being held at Chapel Vestry in Cefn Meiriadog, St Asaph on Friday 25 January and will start at 8 am.

“It is about showcasing the most important meal of the day in a bid to raise awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of breakfast and the huge variety of top quality farm produce available in Wales – ranging from bacon, sausages and eggs to speciality dairy products, breads and cereals. We are really looking forward to the breakfast and hope many of you can join us,” said FUW Denbigh and Flint CEO Mari Dafydd Jones.

The breakfasts cost £10 per person, with all the proceeds being split between Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Farming Community Network.

Farmers from Meirionnydd are inviting you to join them for breakfast, as part of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) breakfast campaign, which aims to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year.

The breakfast feasts are held on Tuesday, 22 January at Tŷ Mawr, Carrog, Corwen, Thursday, 24 January at Canolfan Pennal, Machynlleth, Friday, 25 January at Fedw Arian Uchaf, Y Bala and Saturday, 26 January at Bryn Uchaf, Llanymawddwy, Dinas Mawddwy .

The breakfasts will start at 8.30 and will cost £10.00, with all the proceeds being split between Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Farming Community Network.

“I hope many of you will be able to join us for breakfast. We want you to be a part of what we do, and share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other, and what better way to do that than round a table where we share great food and have a cup of tea,” said FUW Meirionnydd CEO Huw Jones.

To book your seat at the breakfast table please contact the team on 01341 422298.

Farmers from Montgomeryshire are once again heating up the frying pans and are inviting you to join them for breakfast.

The two breakfast, held on Monday, 21 January at Bwyty Maengwyn, Machynlleth  and Friday, 25 January at Plas Du, Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant are part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week, which aims to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year.

The breakfasts will start at 9.00 am and will cost £10 per person, with all the proceeds being split between Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Farming Community Network.

“I hope many of you will be able to join us for breakfast. We want you to be a part of what we do, and share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other, and what better way to do that than round a table where we share great food and have a cup of tea,” said FUW Montgomeryshire CEO Emyr Wyn Davies.

To book your seat at the breakfast table contact the team on 01686 626 889.

The Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held a successful information evening for farmers, helping them get up to speed on the upcoming changes to the VAT submission system and rural crime.

The event which was held at the Picton Centre, Haverfordwest, heard from  Julian Harries and Gethin Davies, of DMB Davies accountants, who explained about the upcoming changes to the VAT submission system from 1 April 2019 and PC Gerwyn Davies and PCSO Jude Parr, of Dyfed Powys Police Pembrokeshire Rural Crime Team, outlined their new roles explaining how they could assist farmers and how farmers could help them to fight rural crime.

Speaking after the event, FUW Pembrokeshire CEO Rebecca Voyle said: “I would like to thank the staff from  DMB Davies accountants, Dyfed Powys Police Pembrokeshire Rural Crime Team and of course our members who attended for making the evening such a success.

“We are looking to arrange similar meetings in the future so if there any issues that you would like us to arrange a meeting on just let us know in the county office.”