Wales’ two farming unions have launched a joint principles paper aimed at placing Welsh food, farming, livelihoods, communities and our environment on a firm post-Brexit footing.

The paper, entitled ‘A Welsh way forward’, was revealed by Farmers’ Union of Wales President Glyn Roberts and NFU Cymru President John Davies at a briefing session for Assembly Members and Welsh Government staff on Wednesday, October 24, at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff. The event was kindly sponsored by Paul Davies AM.

The publication comes in response to the Welsh Government’s current consultation on future rural and land management policies – entitled ‘Brexit and our land’.

Since the consultation was launched, both Unions have held meetings throughout Wales, engaging with thousands of farming businesses, as well as those from a wide range of allied industries such as agricultural merchants and contractors, auctioneers, vets, processors, accountants and financial advisers.

Based on their respective consultation engagement programmes, the Unions have gained an unrivalled mandate to speak on behalf of rural Wales.

Delegates of the Farmers’ Union of Wales Younger Voice for Farming committee enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of Montgomeryshire farms, exploring two very different enterprises.

Their first stop took them to Pen Y Derw, near Welshpool, where FUW members Mark and Helen Williams, farm 40 suckler cows and 900 ewes, as well as running a successful egg production unit.

The poultry unit, which is home to 16,000 free range hens and has been up-and-running since June 2017, provides the family with an additional income, as well as offering extra part time employment in the area.

Younger Voice for Farming Chairman Geraint Davies said: “Mark and Helen are a real credit to our industry. We are so thankful to them for taking time out of their busy day and for showing us around. We were left with lots of food for thought.”

The group went on to join the Farmers Weekly Awards 2018 Sheep Farmers of the Year, John and Sarah Yeomans at Llwyn y Brain
Adfa, Newtown.

The control of sheep scab in Wales is one step closer following the production of an industry-led sheep scab report which is set to be launched on Wednesday, November 7.

The report is a collaborative project between individuals from the farming unions, veterinary practitioners and other leading industry and stakeholder experts and was written in response to growing concern over the levels of sheep scab infestation in Wales.

The recommendations of the Welsh sheep scab industry group, which are contained in the report, have been passed to the Welsh Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group and to the Cabinet Secretary, Lesley Griffiths.  

Group members are now calling on the Welsh Government to provide the funding needed to implement the recommendations outlined in the report.

Sheep scab is an insidious problem and has significant welfare implications for infected sheep.  Previous attempts to eradicate this disease have had limited success and this is largely due to treatment regimes which have attempted to control this disease on a farm-by-farm basis.  

Flintshire farmers are looking forward to the local Farmers’ Union of Wales annual general meeting, which is being held on Thursday, October 25 at Plas Hafod Hotel, Gwernymynydd, commencing at 7.30 pm.

Speakers on the night include Clare Pillman, Chief Executive NRW , who will be talking about her role within NRW and its vision for the future, Lisa Worthington-Jones, Barclays Bank Agricultural Manager, who will be talking about Brexit and what services the bank provide and Mark Williams. FUW Life Insurance Consultant, who will be talking about how important Life insurance is and all different options of life insurance.

Speaking ahead of the event, FUW Denbigh and Flint CEO Mari Dafydd Jones, said: “This promises to be an informative evening, with many #FarmingMatters to be discussed. I look forward to seeing you all there.”

The importance of understanding how food is produced, and reconnecting our population with the land will once again be a key focus for the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) at Gwledd Conwy Feast next weekend (October 26 - 28).

This annual event, supported by the FUW, is an excellent tool for the industry to remind locals and tourists who attend the event of where their food comes from.

“Every year we get questions and faces showing disbelief when they realise how milk is produced or when they realise that potatoes come from the ground before becoming a crisp.

“We are faced with a generation of children who don’t know how their food is produced, where it comes from or how to prepare it.

“The disconnect between food producers and consumers is widening, so this ever growing event plays a vital role in addressing this issue,” said Gwynedd Watkin, FUW Caernarfonshire County Executive Officer.

“This is an excellent example of how useful an event such as this can be. Such initiatives should be supported and encouraged across Wales and be fully supported by the Welsh Assembly Government,” added Gwynedd Watkin.

The FUW is grateful to all the local farmers who are kindly bringing their livestock to the event, from cattle, sheep and goats, shire horse and alpacas, to many different birds and pigs.