The Farmers’ Union of Wales is looking forward to what promises to be an exciting Royal Welsh Winter Fair 2017, held on Monday 27 November and Tuesday 28 November, at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

Members are invited to call by the Union stand, which is located next to the main show ring, for a chat about #FarmingMatters and light refreshments -  a warm welcome is guaranteed to all.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We look forward to welcoming our members and friends to the FUW stand and hope to see many of you there.

“Our staff and officials are on hand to discuss any questions you may have about #FarmingMatters, including the new Bovine TB rules, diversification and quarantine units.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed the release of a report by the All Party Group on Animal Welfare (APGAW) which reviews the ongoing problem of livestock worrying and aims to encourage responsible dog ownership.

Amongst the issues examined were the lack of proper alternatives when green spaces are removed and the difficulty in prosecuting repeat offenders.   

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer said: “Livestock worrying continues to be an important issue for our members and we have repeatedly documented the wide-reaching damage that dog attacks can cause.”

The emotional and financial problems caused by livestock worrying were highlighted by the FUW during several evidence sessions held by the APGAW in London.  

The Denbigh branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held its Annual General Meeting to discuss farming matters on Monday 13 November.

The event was held at Llysfasi college and welcomed Hybu Cig Cymru Industry Development Manager John Richards, Coleg Cambria Llysfasi Farm Manager Dewi Jones and Dunn & Ellis Accountants Director Sion  Roberts, as keynote speakers.

The Anglesey branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales organised a welly walk to raise vital funds for the R.A.B.I. Anglesey Committee, as part of the charity's annual Welly Week.

The hour long walk took place on Friday, November 3 and started from Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. Members of the FUW and pupils from local schools came together for the walk and participants enjoyed a packed lunch together.

FUW Anglesey CEO Heidi Williams said: “I would like to thank everyone who joined us for the welly walk, which took us along the beautiful Anglesey coastline.

“The R.A.B.I’s Welly Week is a great opportunity to bring people together for fun and fundraising in support of a great cause. We are proud to be able to give something back in recognition of the support that they offer the farming community.

“Anglesey County Council contributed by way of allowing us to utilise the facilities at the Information Centre and William Stewart Park Warden organised the guided walk along the Coastal Path at the Holyhead Breakwater.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales says the authorities reacted appropriately in deciding to shoot an escaped lynx after a specialist veterinary surgeon advised that the risk to public well-being had increased from moderate to severe.

The escaped Eurasian lynx was already suspected of having killed seven sheep within a few hundred yards of the town of Borth, in Ceredigion, after escaping from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom, and had since strayed into a populated area.

“In an ideal world the lynx would have been quickly recaptured, but this did not happen,” said an FUW spokesman.

“Given the risk to people and livestock, action to remove such a danger was long overdue. Had the animal not been allowed to escape in the first place, this situation would not have arisen, and it seems a number of our member’s livestock would not have been attacked and killed.”

Young farmers from Brecon and Radnor have come together for the county's first ever youth academy event to discuss farming matters and to see how different feeding regimes and rotational grazing can help improve efficiency.

The meeting was hosted by FUW member Keith Williams and his family at The Hendy, Hundred House, where the family have been farming since 1902.

Keith took over from his father in the early 2000s and the farm is just over 400 acres of upland and reclaimed hill land, stocked with 800 cross-bred ewes and 20 Welsh Black suckler cows. The farm is also in Glastir Advanced.

Keith was awarded an HCC scholarship in 2008, was awarded Farmers Weekly Sheep Farmer of the Year in 2013 and completed a Nuffield Scholarship in 2014. The Hendy was an HCC Demonstration Farm from 2008 to 2011.