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YOUNGER VOICES: Gwion Owen, left, and Darren Williams[/caption]
The Farmers' Union of Wales is giving young farmers a stronger voice within the organisation after setting up a "Younger Voice for Farming" committee.
One of the union's main priorities has always been to ensure there is an avenue for younger members to feed into its discussions on issues of importance such as CAP reform.
"It is important to include the views of younger members and new entrants to the industry in our work and by establishing this new standing committee we are able to provide another platform for their opinions and views," said FUW president Emyr Jones.
"The union has always striven to represent the views of all its members and include them in the policy-making process. We are now taking on a more modern approach and hope the new committee will be a modern forum for young members and those new to the industry," added Mr Jones.
The committee's first chairman is 39-year-old Breconshire farmer Darren Williams, 39, of Talwen Fawr farm, Garthbrengy, who runs 80 cattle with 30 sucklers and finishers, 500 sheep and 25 acres of arable on the 250-acre tenant farm.
He said: "I am honoured to have been elected as chairman of this committee and will work hard to ensure that the views of the younger farmers are reflected within the work of the union."
Gwion Owen, 34, a Denbighshire sheep farmer, was elected vice chairman. He farms 2,300 ewes at Hendre Arddwyfan farm, Ty Nant, Corwen, on the 560-acre family farm, of which 110 are rented.
He said: "Through this committee we hope to get to bottom of things as regards to the opportunities available to young people to get into the industry and to succeed in achieving a fair wage for young people that mirrors those of other industries."