by Angharad Evans, Welsh Editor, Y Tir

Can you believe that we're half way through 2018 already? Time flies!  June has been a busy month for us, the first show of the season, shearing, being able to make silage on the longest day of the year, summer solcstice. It’s been nice not to have to worry about the weather forecast and no real rush to get the harvest done. The month concluded with a very special weekend of celebrating countryside culture at its best.

Younger members of the Meirionnydd branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales were last week joined by the Welsh Government’s Head of Future Farming Policy, Gareth Wilson, during four successful farm visits in the eastern region of the county.

The visits had been arranged to highlight the concerns of younger farmers, and involved conversations with family members on the current state of the agricultural industry and the uncertainties and challenges ahead, particularly in terms of UK leaving the European Union.

FUW Meirionnydd County Chairman, Geraint Davies, who also chairs the FUW Younger Voice for Farming Committee said: “The farms visited represented a cross section of the industry in Meirionnydd, with some being run by owner occupiers, and others being tenanted farms or with land under grazing agreements.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has issued a discussion document on the need for a UK policy framework which prevents unfair competition between UK farmers, market distortion and other negative impacts after Brexit.

‘Filling the void - steps towards a post-Brexit UK policy framework’ highlights the fact that an ‘unprecedented legislative void’ will be created post-Brexit, allowing policies across the UK’s four nations to diverge to the extent that they may result in market distortion and unfair competition between farmers, and cause significant disruption to the functioning of the UK’s internal markets and supply chains.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “As an organisation established more than sixty years ago to advance and protect the interests of Welsh farmers, the Farmers’ Union of Wales remains fully committed to devolution and the advantages it has brought to Wales and other nations over the past two decades.

“But such changes do not negate the need for all our nations to work together to develop approaches which are mutually beneficial and protect not only our farmers and internal markets, but also our status and reputation across Europe and the World.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the Welsh Government’s agreement to its request for derogations to be allowed where certain Glastir rules are adding to problems caused by the hot weather.

The FUW had written to Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths highlighting how problems caused by the extremely wet weather experienced from last summer onwards were being exacerbated by the subsequent long period of dry weather.

Farmer across Wales have reported that silage and hay crops have been particularly badly affected, with quality and quantity deteriorating with each day that passes in the current hot weather.

For those in Glastir agreements, such problems are compounded by restrictions which limit farmers’ ability to make up for such impacts, most notably the restriction on taking crops before the 15th July.

In his letter, FUW President Glyn Roberts stated: “Given the knock on impact this will have on forage supplies in the autumn and winter, particularly if we again experience extreme weather as we have done over the past ten months, and the degree to which these restrictions are undermining the ability of farms to make their businesses more resilient, we believe it is imperative that derogations be granted as a matter of urgency.”

The Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, in conjunction with Pembrokeshire County Council and Dyfed Powys Police, has organised an information day and walk to help farmers get up to speed on scam awareness and farm security.

The event will take place on Tuesday 10 July 2018, at 2pm, at Mountain Farm, Haverfordwest.

FUW Pembrokeshire CEO Rebecca Voyle said: “This is an ideal opportunity for you to find out about telephone, mail and online scams which affect rural communities, how to protect yourselves from them and who to report them to.

“There will also be discussions about farm security and an opportunity to see the biomass system which is used to provide heat for drying corn and heating buildings at Mountain Farm and some of the crops. I hope many of you can join us on day.”

To book your place or to find out more please contact the county office on 01437 762 913 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Farmers from Carmarthenshire discussed the most critical #FarmingMatters facing the industry, including Brexit, the future for young farmers, succession and shared farming, the amalgamation of large retail food stores and the impact upon suppliers, at their recent annual general meeting.

The event, which was held at Llanarthney Village Hall, heard from FUW head of policy Dr. Nick Fenwick, Wales YFC Vice chairman and Chairman of Rural Affairs Dafydd Jones, Agri-advisors Manon Williams,  and Cled Richards from Agri-Angels.

Newly-elected FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Philip Jones, said: “We enjoyed a successful evening with a lively discussion on many farming matters and I would like to thank the panel for their valuable contributions.

“When it comes to Brexit, many of us still feel in the dark but it was good to hear that the FUW on behalf of its members is doing all it can to influence politicians where possible and through its lobbying work is ensuring that the voice of the Family Farms of Wales are being heard in London and Cardiff.”