Pembrokeshire dairy farmer Dai Miles has been elected as the new Farmers’ Union of Wales Vice President at the FUW’s Grand Council meeting in Aberystwyth (Wednesday, 16 October).
Dai has been the FUW’s milk and dairy produce committee chairman since 2017 and 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.
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 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.
In 1997, in partnership with his wife Sharron, the couple took on the tenancy of Barnsley Farm, a 143 acres farm in West Wales. At the time it was a stock/arable unit which they 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. At the moment the couple have 120 cows and 65 youngstock. Cropping is mainly grass, however arable silage, forage rape and fodder beet are part of the rotation farming approx. 300 plus acres.
In 2018 they purchased the neighbouring farm from the estate and installed a modern robotic milking system on the holding.
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 linguistic 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, I am delighted to take on this new challenging role in the Union and help the FUW and its members to fight for a better future for all our farmers in Wales.”
Welcoming Dai to the Union’s Presidential Policy team, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “In times like these we need thought leaders, who can help us steer, lobby and negotiate the right policies for agriculture in Wales to ensure we have thriving, sustainable family farms in Wales for generations to come.
“Dai has plenty of experience and knowledge of agriculture across Wales and a real sense of why #FarmingMatters. I am grateful to have him on the Presidential Policy team and look forward to working with him.”