The Farmers’ Union of Wales has outlined how alternatives to tree planting can achieve equivalent reductions in emissions while also delivering a broad range of benefits at the Plaid Cymru conference, which was held on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 October 2023, in Aberystwyth.

Hosting a fringe event on Friday, 6 October 2023, the Union highlighted that tree planting is just one of the many ways in which net Welsh carbon emissions can be reduced. 

Presenting the latest available statistics to delegates, the FUW highlighted that in 2019, Welsh energy production was responsible for 10,953,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Offsetting this, Union officials stressed, would require around 1.1 million hectares of land to be planted with trees.

Farmers’ Union of Wales members from across Wales have voiced extreme anger at the new Habitat Wales scheme after calculations revealed massive falls in compensatory payments they would receive for undertaking environmental work, and having encountered major flaws and inaccuracies in the farm maps published last week.

FUW President Ian Rickman said: “FUW staff and officials have spoken to members from across Wales in meetings and during the process of assisting members with their applications, and there is real anger about this scheme. 

“The scheme was foisted upon the industry at the 11th hour as a done deal, and while a small number of improvements have been made in response to FUW calls, it has certainly not been developed in cooperation with the farming industry as it should have been. 

Farmers from Anglesey have come together to discuss the current bovine TB situation in the county and were joined by representatives from the Welsh Government and APHA.

The information session was hosted by the local Farmers’ Union of Wales branch and members heard from FUW Deputy head of policy Dr Hazel Wright, Stephen Sagar and  David Harris from APHA, as well as Alison Jones Head of TB Welsh Government.

FUW Anglesey county executive officer Alaw Jones said: “It was an opportunity to learn about the latest statistics and cases within the County and also to hear the proposals Welsh Government are considering to control the disease on the island. This includes the use of compulsory pre-movement testing and we are awaiting the official start date of this measure. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has repeated its concerns that there is still no clarity around the budget available for the Habitat Wales scheme, which launched on Friday 29 September 2023. 

The scheme replaces the former Glastir scheme and it is understood that more than 17,000 Welsh farmers may be eligible to apply for the scheme. 

FUW President Ian Rickman said: “We are extremely concerned by the lack of clarity on the budget available. The uncertainty for farming business is immense and no business should be expected to operate under such circumstances. 

The Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held a successful information evening for members on the agricultural water pollution regulations facing the farming industry (NVZ regulations).

The meeting, which was held at Aberaeron Rugby club, heard from FUW Senior Policy and Communications Officer Gareth Parry, who summarised and discussed the Control of Agricultural Pollution regulations; as well as Councillor Clive Davies, Ceredigion County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration who discussed planning, the increase in agricultural planning applications and the problems caused by phosphate management in Ceredigion. Dr Iwan Owen, a former lecturer from Aberystwyth University, addressed the management of nitrates, soil and grassland.

The Carmarthen branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has elected Ann Davies, who was born and raised in Llanarthne where she farms a tenanted dairy unit with her husband Gareth, as its new chairperson. Mrs Davies takes over the chairmanship from Phil Jones, who served the branch as its chair for 4 years. 

She is mother to three daughters, and grandmother of six.  Until her election as County Councillor for Llanddarog and Llanarthne parishes in 2017 she was a Peripatetic Music Teacher with Carmarthenshire County Council, but now co-runs Cwtsh y Clos children’s nursery with her daughter Gwenllian.