Local food issues and Welsh dairy farmers’ plight raised at Anglesey Day

Food, farming and tourism were in the spotlight for the fourth annual Anglesey Day in Westminster hosted by the island’s MP Albert Owen and featuring Farmers' Union of Wales members promoting their food products.

Local companies involved included bakers Popty’r Bryn, cheesemakers Caws Rhyd Y Delyn and David and Alison Lea-Wilson's Anglesey Sea Salt.

FUW county executive officer Heidi Williams said: “It was the best Anglesey Day yet with an excellent range of exhibits showcasing our island.

"We had an early start from Holyhead train station and were treated to a feast of goodies - compliments of Virgin Trains who sponsored the carriage taking those participating in this prestigious event.

"Also included in the party were Mary Parry MBE and her dancing girls dressed in traditional Welsh costumes.

"The event took place in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, with stands and exhibitions ranging from charities to the public and private sector, all with connections with the Isle of Anglesey.

"Guest speakers included deputy speaker of the Commons Lindsey Hoyle, Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb and his deputy Owen Smith, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Anglesey county council chairman Vaughan Hughes and Labour leader Ed Miliband also made time in his busy schedule to attend."

Former chairman of the FUW's milk and dairy produce committee, Holyhead dairy farmer Eifion Huws, took the opportunity to lobby MPs about the crisis within the dairy sector.

He reminded them Welsh dairy producers operate on a global platform within an unforgiving marketplace and it is essential that they are allowed to compete at an international level.

"I was able to tell MPs that dairy is one of Wales's largest agricultural sectors, accounting for around 34 per cent of our agricultural production by value, which is around twice as high as the whole of the UK," Mr Huws said.

"I also stressed to them that recent cuts by some processors to the prices paid to farmers mean that farmgate prices are likely to have decreased by between five to seven pence per litre (ppl) by this month and this may have a further downward impact on production levels.

"Although the UK is not a major supplier of dairy produce to Russia, their import embargo has also disrupted the EU marketplace and has made this downward price trend even worse by increasing the uncertainty across the sector," Mr Huws added.

[caption id="attachment_3155" align="aligncenter" width="768"]ANGLESEY DAY LOBBY: Eifion Huws (left) and Huw Irranca-Davies on the FUW stand. ANGLESEY DAY LOBBY: Eifion Huws (left) and Huw Irranca-Davies on the FUW stand.[/caption]

 

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