[caption id="attachment_6414" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Carmarthen AGM Discussion Panel (l-r): HCC Head of Operation Prys Morgan, FUW County Executive Officer David Waters, FUW President Glyn Roberts, FUW Carmarthen County Chairman Iwan Price Davies, Coleg Sir Gâr Landbased Studies lecturer Mary Richards and Edward Perkins of Rural Chartered Surveyors[/caption]
A panel of speakers discussed the Basic Payment, succession and red meat export development opportunities at an annual general meeting held by the Carmarthen branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales.
The meeting, which was held at Llanarthne Village Hall on Thursday 26 May, welcomed FUW President Glyn Roberts, Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) Head of Operation Prys Morgan, Coleg Sir Gâr Landbased Studies lecturer Mary Richards and Edward Perkins of Rural Chartered Surveyors to the discussion panel.
Discussing the 15% transfer from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2, FUW President Glyn Roberts explained to the audience that the decision under the current CAP was final and could not be revisited without a change to EU law, which was why the Union had been opposed to and fought against the proposal.
Providing an update on Hybu Cig Cymru’s market development progress, Prys Morgan, highlighted the difficulty in establishing new markets outside the EU, adding that HCC was marketing Welsh Lamb as a premium product.
Mr Morgan emphasised that HCC is making progress in establishing an export market to the USA but that the country’s TSA regulations were a major barrier.
The panel further discussed how to attract more young people into the industry. FUW’s Glyn Roberts said: “We have to make the industry attractive for our young people. But if we want the next generation to take over, then we also need to find somewhere for the older generation to go.
“It is our responsibility to do the best we can for those who want to get started in farming and for that the perception of the industry has to change. The last 2 years have been the hardest I have experienced since starting farming in 1977, but we have to be positive.
“There are plenty of opportunities and we do have a future. What vexes me is that we are one of the richest countries in the world but yet we can’ seem to sustain a profitable sector and there is something very wrong with that. As an union we will continue our efforts to educate governments and highlight the fact that young farmers are our future and the custodians of the countryside.”
Mary Richards, said that she was passionate about the topic of succession, stating: “We need to share and let go so that the younger generation can get a foothold in the industry. But there has to be a mentality shift and we need a cultural change to revamp agriculture.
“Council and start-up farms are vital in this and share farming has to be explored further here. Look at New Zealand and Ireland - it works very well for them.”
The panel further discussed the pro’s and con’s on EU membership and were mostly in agreement that Wales is stronger inside the single market.
Following the successful evening, FUW Carmarthen Executive Officer David Waters said: “ I thank the panel for their excellent contributions tonight and of course our members who attended the meeting.”