The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is looking forward to a busy week discussing the most critical farming matters at the Royal Welsh Show (Monday 18-Thursday 21 July 2022), which is taking place in person in Llanelwedd following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking ahead of the show, FUW President Glyn Roberts said:
Those coming to see us in our pavilion can look forward to a warm welcome after three years of absence, during which we have seen our world turned upside down.
The necessary and sensible decisions to cancel the 2021 and 2022 Royal Welsh shows left a huge gap in the calendars of our farming communities not only in Wales, but across the UK and further afield.
For thousands, it meant the loss of their only annual holiday; the loss of a unique opportunity to come together, meet old friends, make new ones, and above all celebrate our agricultural communities and our fantastic Welsh produce.I hope to see many of you throughout the week, either enjoying a paned with us or at one of the many excellent seminars we are hosting.
The show will also present an opportunity for the FUW to highlight policies that our new Prime Minister and our nations’ Governments must support in order to relieve pressures for farmers, food producers and consumers in the immediate term, while bolstering our food and energy security in ways which reduce the long term dangers of exposure to global emergencies.”
Those coming to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show can look forward to a series of seminars and discussion groups, which are all hosted at the FUW pavilion and sponsored by FUW Insurance Services.
Events held at the FUW pavilion:
Monday 18 July, 11am: Food security, carbon and trees- can we have it all? Ask the experts
The different demands on land use has never been greater. How can Wales’ family farms balance and benefit from these demands? Come and get your questions answered on carbon calculators, woodland on farms, growing more food, and ensuring future policies get the balance right.
Speakers:
Teleri Fielden- FUW Policy Officer
Rachael Madeley Davies- Kite Consulting
Gareth Davies- Coed Cymru
Martin Kennedy- NFUS president
Tuesday 19 July, 11am: OFCOM presentation
The event will look at mobile coverage in Wales. What does the latest Ofcom data tell us about mobile communications in rural Wales and what is Ofcom doing to improve coverage? We will hear directly from Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL) – the joint venture of all four mobile operators managing the SRN programme, Ofcom and Vodafone which recently launched its first live ‘self-powering’ mobile phone mast in Wales.
Speakers:
Fay Jones MP for Brecon & Radnorshire
Huw Saunders, Ofcom’s Director of Network Infrastructure and Resilience
Bryn Jones, Director of Shared Rural Network, DMSL
Vanessa Higham, Vodafone
Guto Bebb, MD FUW Group
Tuesday 19 July, 2pm: Launch and panel discussion: GWCT Wales Working Conservationists Farming Community
Drinks, canapès and panel discussion
Speakers:
James Owen Deputy Director, Land Management Reform Division Welsh Government
Geraint Llyr Davies NRW Farmer & Board member
Teresa Dent CBE (CEO GWCT)
Nick Fenwick FUW Head of Policy and farmer
Richard Anthony Farmer
Tuesday 19 July, 3.30pm: FUWIS Farm theft - how to manage risk and keep insurance premiums low
FUW Insurance Services are hosting a panel discussion to look at how the insurance industry can work with security and technology companies to minimise risk of theft.
Wednesday 20 July, 10am: Landscape Management for Wildfire Prevention
An opportunity to discuss land management policies, the Sustainable Farming
Scheme, and the use of agricultural techniques in Wildfire prevention
Speakers:
Graham Berry (Denbighshire County Council)
Jeremy Turner (Mid and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service)
Andrew Tuddenham (National Trust)
Wednesday 20 July, 11am: Using all the tools in the box-TB Technologies and their relevance for disease eradication
Bovine TB is one of the most significant and devastating issues facing cattle keepers in Wales. Current control policies continue to focus almost entirely on cattle testing and cattle controls; with further costly controls proposed in the latest Welsh Government 'Refreshed TB Eradication programme'. In this seminar, we aim to discuss and review current and emerging bovine TB technologies in view of their relevance for disease control and eradication.
Speakers:
Prof Glyn Hewinson, Sêr Cymru Chair-Department of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University
Dai Miles FUW Vice President
Victoria Sewcon, AHDB
Dr Hazel Wright FUW Senior Policy Officer
Wednesday 20 July, 2pm: Women in Agriculture and the Rural Economy
The Farmers’ Union of Wales and Chwarae Teg are hosting a joint panel event at this year’s Royal Welsh Agricultural Show to discuss women’s role in agriculture and the wider rural economy. We’ll discuss the barriers that currently face women and how they can be tackled alongside celebrating and highlighting the contribution women make.
Wednesday 20 July, 3pm: Sustainable Farming Scheme: What are the Welsh Government's latest proposals for Welsh farm support?
In early July the Welsh Government will publish its latest 'Sustainable Farming Scheme' proposals and is seeking feedback from the industry. James Owen, Deputy Director of the Welsh Government's Land Management Reform Division, will explain the latest position, answer questions and receive feedback on the proposals.
Thursday 21 July, 11am: Mental Health, Women and the Menopause
As a Union we’re committed to raising awareness of mental health challenges within the industry and this year we’re discussing the mental health of women in particular. We’re joining forces with the DPJ Foundation to discuss the issues and pressure for women in agriculture, and the extra challenges brought forward by the menopause.
Speakers:
Kate Miles DPJ Foundation
Corinna Oakham Wynnstay Stores
Chair Carwen Davies FUW Head of Communications