A Pembrokeshire dairy farmer has been appointed to head-up the Farmers’ Union of Wales Milk and Dairy Produce committee at a recent meeting in Aberystwyth.
Dai Miles,together with his wife Sharron, took on the tenancy of Barnsley Farm, Crowhill, Haverfordwest in 1997. At the time farm stretched to 143 acres and was a stock/arable unit which the couple converted into an organic dairy unit starting with 33 cows and leased milk quota.
In 2001 they took on a further 90 acres of pasture land and then in 2005 the neighbouring farm within the same estate. Currently they have 100 cows and 65 followers farming approx. 300 plus acres.
The couple are currently planning to relocate the dairy unit to a new site with modern facilities onto to a farm adjoining Barnsley, which is in the process of being purchased.
Dai is also one of the 4 founding directors of Calon Wen, an organic milk co-operative that not only sells on its member’s milk to processors but has created its own brand of dairy products which are available through all major retailers in Wales and UK wide via distributors.
Having been closely involved with the day to day management of the business for many years, Dai took over the role as Managing Director in 2013. The role encompasses total management of the milk brokerage side of the business (turnover £7.2 million), and supervision of all office and sale staff on the retail brand side (£1.6 million sales).
A self-confessed born Cardi, Dai lived in Felin Fach near Lampeter as a child and went to Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron. He is a fluent Welsh speaker, and following school attended the Welsh Agricultural College in Aberystwyth where he received a National Diploma in Agriculture and completed a sandwich year at Godor Nantgaredig.
After college Dai spent 5 years as a Herdsman of 160 cows at Waun Fawr Glynarthen Llandysul, then a further 5 years at IGER Trawscoed working as a relief herdsman between the two dairy herds -Lodge Farm and the organic herd at Ty Gwyn.
Speaking about his appointment Dai said: “One reason why I am proud to be a member of the FUW is that all members have a voice whether they farm large businesses or smaller farms. The importance the Union gives to the cultural and language heritage of Wales was also an important factor in my decision to join this Union.
“I am a strong believer that if you are a member of an organisation you should fully participate in that organisation and assist to the best of your abilities to ensure its future and vitality. Therefore after many years of having benefited from being a member of the FUW, and with the experiences I have since gained, I would like to give something back. I am therefore delighted to head up this important committee and help the FUW and its members to fight for a better future for all our Welsh dairy farmers.”