The Denbigh and Flint team of the Farmers’ Union of Wales enjoyed a successful county show, highlighting why farming matters when they met with local politicians and show-goers. Union officials and staff highlighted members' concerns around the Sustainable Farming Scheme, the new habitat scheme and problems facing farmers with the Water Resources ‘NVZ’ regulations.
FUW Land Use committee chair Tim Faire said:
“There are issues facing our farming industry that, if not addressed, could result in farming business becoming unviable. We have highlighted some of our concerns with the politicians we met at the Denbigh and Flint show, emphasising that some of the current proposals in the Sustainable Farming Scheme could have unintended consequences that would render the sector as a whole unviable.
“That of course would not be helpful in terms of food security and also the key role farmers play in carbon sequestration, looking after the environment and keeping the wheels of our rural economy turning.”
Union officials also discussed the barriers some farmers face as they try to prepare for the third phase of the Water Resources Regulations.
FUW President Ian Rickman said:
"As farmers across Wales attempt to prepare for the third phase of the Water Resources Regulations, they face a number of barriers when trying to invest into new infrastructure, not least issues with the planning process.
“This includes a conflict between the Water Resources Regulations and the Sustainable Drainage Order whereby some Local Authorities are requesting SUDS approval, meaning farmers are having to incur increased costs, delays and the possibility of missing out on Welsh Government grants.
“We have raised this with NRW and the Minister for Rural Affairs on numerous occasions and have been assured that updated guidance would be provided to planning authorities in order to clarify when SUDS aren't required."
Addressing concerns around new interim habitat scheme that is replacing the Glastir scheme, Union staff pointed out that when the Welsh Government announced that mainstream Glastir contracts would not be extended for the 3,000 farms in those environmental agreements, the FUW stated clearly that this was going to cause huge problems for our members across Wales. There are real financial implications for farm businesses and the practicalities of designing and introducing a new replacement scheme over a period of just a few months is, to be honest, challenging.
FUW Senior Policy and Communications officer Gareth Parry added:
“Some of those farms affected have been in Glastir agreements for thirty years, and all will have changed their farming practices and stock numbers to comply with the scheme rules.
"As such, this proposed change places huge stress on thousands of farming families in terms of their financial viability whilst also raising serious concerns as to how the Welsh Government will implement a new scheme over such a short period of time.”
In addition to meeting politicians and stakeholders at the show, the local branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales also recognised members for their contribution to agriculture within the counties of Denbighshire and Flintshire.
Dei Davies, of Moor Farm, was the winner of the Contribution to Agriculture Award for Flintshire 2023. He farms around 100 acres at Moor Farm, Holywell, a tenanted county council holding with a further 53 acres as temporary rented land.
Together with his wife, Heulwen, he runs a herd of approximately 110 Friesian milking cows. He is a former chairman of the FUW milk and dairy produce committee and has worked tirelessly over the years on behalf of the dairy industry. Dei has held the roles of President and Chairman of the FUW in Flintshire and is always ready to help anyone in any way possible within the county and the Union.
Eryl Hughes, of Hafod Dre Isaf, was the winner of the Contribution to Agriculture Award for Denbighshire 2023. He farms near Pentrefoelas with his daughter Leah. Hafod Dre Isaf is a beef and sheep farm and is part of the Foelas Estate. It covers approximately 200 acres. They have a suckler herd and over 500 sheep.
He was elected Chairman of the FUW in Denbighshire for 2010-2011 and elected as President for 2012-2013. He followed his father’s footsteps by being active within the Union and has been an active member of the FUW in Denbighshire and a member of many different committees including the FUW tenants committee. Eryl has worked tirelessly within the Union and has fought hard for Welsh farmers, has championed the use of the Welsh language within the Union and has always highlighted the importance of maintaining sustainable family farms in Wales.
After presenting the awards, FUW President Ian Rickman said:
“It has been a pleasure to join the team up here and presenting these awards to our members has been an honour. Our members do so much for the Union and for the agricultural industry. The Denbighshire and Flint Show 2023 was a great reminder of why farming matters to so many of us and showcased the important role farmers such as Eryl and Dei play in their respective communities.”