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From left: Anwen Jones, Iwan Jones, North Wales Liberal Democrat AM and shadow minister for children, education and the Welsh language at the National Assembly Aled Roberts, Farmers’ Union of Wales president Emyr Jones and Tudur Jones[/caption]
Town met country when former mayor of Wrexham Aled Roberts went on a "steep learning curve" by visiting the Conwy Valley farms of two Farmers' Union of Wales members.
Since last year Mr Roberts has been a North Wales Liberal Democrat AM and shadow minister for children, education and the Welsh language at the National Assembly.
He previously served the Ponciau ward on Wrexham County Borough Council from 1991 and was the town's mayor in 2003-04 before being elected leader of the council in March 2005.
During the farm visits he discussed topical issues - including the milk industry, the Glastir agri-environment scheme and CAP reform - with FUW officials and both farming families.
At Tudur and Anwen Jones' Ty'n Rhos Farm in Pentrefoelas, Mr Roberts was told they milk 80 cows and have a flock of around 300 ewes.
He learned that Ty'n Rhos is one of the few remaining farms in the area still producing milk and that the biggest burden for many milk producers has been the rises in production cost, particularly over the last five years.
"It is difficult to shop around for a processor who will give us a better price for our milk in this part of the country, which will better cover increases in production cost," said Mr Jones.
He told Mr Roberts Ty'n Rhos managed to gain sufficient points to qualify to join the Glastir scheme because he was a dairy farmer with a mountain.
"Unfortunately we've been refused the Agricultural Carbon Reduction and Efficiency Scheme (ACRES) Element funding and we still don't know what we may get under the upper level element.
"It was very difficult for us to make a business decision as we did not have all the facts to hand, and we still don't, which is an unbelievable situation in itself.
"The lack of information meant our decision to join was very much a step in the dark, so I can understand why others have been reluctant to join."
After having lunch at Y Felin in Ysbyty Ifan - courtesy of Eleri Roberts, one of five local farming wives offering various services to ensure memorable wedding ceremonies and breakfasts - Aled Roberts visited the nearby farm of FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts to discuss CAP issues in more depth, the Welsh Government's penalty regime, bovine TB and sheep EID.
Afterwards, Aled Roberts said: "This has been a very steep learning curve for me as a town person who hasn't been in tune with the agriculture industry for decades.
"I've had a very informative day during which I've been given valuable advice on the many issues that are currently of greatest concern to the industry."
Glyn Roberts said he was glad of the opportunity to convey union members' concerns to the AM and to emphasise how important the industry is - not only to the rural areas of the country - but to the economy of Wales as a whole, and everyone involved with the backbone of the language and culture of Wales.