Former Farmers' Union of Wales director of agricultural policy Mary James has received this year's FUW/United Counties Agricultural & Hunters Society award for outstanding service to agriculture in Carmarthenshire.
“Mary was nominated for this award on the basis of the excellent service she has provided to the agricultural industry in Carmarthenshire and throughout Wales during her career in the world of agri-politics,” said FUW president Emyr Jones.
“She has been an instrumental force in lobbying for the best interests of Welsh farmers throughout all these times of significant changes to the agricultural policy landscape and for this we thank her,” added Mr Jones.
Mary has recently retired after a long career in agri-politics which has spanned a staggering 37 years, beginning with the FUW and for the last 15 years she has worked for NFU Cymru.
In 1999 she became deputy director/head of policy before she was appointed director in 2008, taking over responsibility for the management, resources and policy direction of NFU Cymru.
Prior to entering a career in agri-politics she gained a BSc honours degree in agricultural economics at the University College of Wales Aberystwyth.
In 1996 she was made an associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies and in July 2002 she was awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Royal Agricultural Societies in recognition of further contribution to the agricultural industry.
“Mary is held in the highest regard by politicians and senior civil servants in Cardiff and has played a crucial role in bringing the agricultural industry and Welsh government closer together,” Mr Jones added.
Although recently retired Mary maintains a keen interest in the agricultural industry in Wales and remains a member of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Carmarthenshire advisory committee and is an NFU Mutual Farm Safety Foundation trustee.
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from left: FUW president Emyr Jones with Welsh Dairy Show Dinner president Enid George and former FUW director of agricultural policy Mary James[/caption]