Pembrokeshire farming stalwart, Brian Thomas, has been re-elected as the Farmers’ Union of Wales Deputy President, during a meeting of the Union’s Grand Council in Aberystwyth (Monday, June 19).

Brian Thomas, has been farming at Llwyncelyn Lan farm, Llanfyrnach since 1988. The family farm consists of 280 acres, 30 acres of which is woodland, and is home to a herd of 100 beef shorthorn cattle and a flock of 300 ewes, with cereals also being grow.

He is a past County Chairman of the FUW in Pembrokeshire, and has previously sat on the FUW’s central tenant’s committee. Brian was elected South Wales member of the central finance and organisation committee in 2011 and elected Vice President of the FUW in 2013.

Speaking after his appointment, Brian Thomas said: “I would like to thank those who have voted for me to continue in my role as Deputy President of the Union. It has been a pleasure to work alongside Glyn Roberts for the past 2 years and I look forward to continuing my work with him and the new FUW board of Directors.”

During the 1996 BSE outbreak, Mr Thomas lead the campaign in South West Wales opposing the importation of inferior beef into Wales.  In 1997 he led a group of 10 farmers to Tesco’s stand at the Royal Welsh Show to address them about the unfair way in which they were treating the industry.

Bovine TB is a subject which Brian is passionate about. When his herd went down with the disease in the late 1990’s he commented in interviews that the disease would be more of a problem than BSE would ever be if it was not tackled.

Unfortunately, for many he has been proved right and currently he sits on the local working group for the Assembly’s Bovine TB Intensive Action Area in North Pembrokeshire, representing farmers in the area.

[caption id="attachment_8043" align="alignleft" width="300"] Re-elected FUW President Glyn Roberts with Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths[/caption]

Well known Conwy beef and sheep farmer, Glyn Roberts, has been re-elected as the Farmers’ Union of Wales President during a meeting of the Union’s Grand Council in Aberystwyth (Monday, June 19).

Following his appointment Mr Roberts of Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws-Y-Coed, Conwy, who has held the role of FUW President since 2015, said: “I am delighted to be at the helm of the FUW during this historic period.

“As President of this Union I want to see the opportunities in problems rather than see problems in opportunities. A priority for us now is to ensure that we maintain a sustainable and viable farming sector here in Wales.

“We want to see a vibrant and real future for real rural people. Many of our members fear that if farming is not high enough on the agenda of the government, Wales will turn into an open air museum. There is a real concern that if agriculture fails, we will see an increase in rural depopulation, which will not only have a sever impact on our rural economy, way of life and language but it will also cause an extra strain on our towns and cities.

“Without the right deal for farmers, our rural communities will disappear and turn into ghost towns. The objective now is to create a sustainable agricultural industry, within a sustainable rural community. If we work proactively, keeping the bigger picture in, this should be achievable.”

In 1977 Glyn successfully submitted an application for the tenancy of a 100-acre upland farm, Ynys Wen, Ysbyty Ifan and also worked part-time during this period at Dylasau Uchaf.

In 1983 Mr Roberts secured the tenancy of Dylasau Uchaf, a 350-acre farm owned by the National Trust, where he continues to farm with his daughter Beca. His wife Eleri runs a separate catering business at Ysbyty Ifan. The couple have five children, all of which have graduated from  Aberystwyth University.

Mr Roberts has been on the FUW finance and organisation committee as North Wales member from 2003 – 2004; FUW vice president from 2004-2011 and was elected as deputy president of the Farmers’ Union of Wales in 2011.

Glyn has lectured several times on agricultural issues and a personal highlight was lecturing on the Future of the Uplands at Glynllifon in 1997 and sharing the stage with head of the agriculture department of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth Professor Mike Haines and John Cameron from NFU Scotland. A personal highlight was the invitation from Franz Fischler, EU Agricultural Commissioner, to attend a meeting on future Rural Development in Strasburg in 2003.

During 2006-2008 he was the FUW’s representative on the board of Hybu Cig Cymru and from 2008 to 2015 served as non-executive director on the board of Hybu Cig Cymru by Welsh Assembly Government appointment.

In January 2001, Carwyn Jones AM visited Dylasau Uchaf and Ysbyty Ifan and Mr Roberts was responsible for preparing a comprehensive document looking at the inevitable link between agriculture and the future of rural communities, “The Importance of Agriculture in Rural Communities”.

Mr Roberts led the first FUW delegation from Caernarfonshire to Brussels to discuss E.I.D. back in October 2000.

Glyn won the National Eisteddfod Farm Management competition which involved compiling a three-year plan, and in 1992 when Glynllifon College was faced with the threat of closure, Glyn was chosen as a member of a Working Group of three to look at the possibilities of keeping its doors open.

A special awards ceremony was held by the Farmers’ Union of Wales to publicly recognise and thank Farmers’ Union of Wales Caernarfonshire County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin for serving the Union for more than 25 years.

Gwynedd Watkin originally joined the FUW as an Area Officer for North Caernarfonshire in September 1991 and was appointed as the County Executive Officer for Caernarfon in October 1999.

Presenting the award, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Gwynedd is exceptionally enthusiastic, passionate, absolutely committed to the FUW and he provides a first class service to members.

“He launched the hugely successful on farmhouse breakfasts, which are now held in every corner of Wales, and I must of course also mention his tireless fundraising campaigns over the years.

“Whether it’s breakfast functions, climbing up mountains, walking the length of Wales or along the coast - Gwynedd is always up for a challenge to raise money for worthy causes and our own President’s charity, alongside his other duties for the Union.
“It gives me great pleasure to make this presentation to Gwynedd today and I thank him for his outstanding service to the FUW and to Welsh agriculture over the last 25 years.”

[caption id="attachment_8033" align="alignleft" width="200"] FUW Meirionnydd Administrative Assistant Ffion Edwards accepting the Owen Slaymaker award[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ Meirionnydd County Executive Officer Huw Jones and Administrative Assistant Ffion Edwards have been presented with the Union’s Owen Slaymaker Award, given annually to the county branch that has best promoted the interests of members and the FUW.

The award, presented in memory of former FUW Carmarthenshire County Secretary and County Executive Officer Mr Slaymaker, recognises the County Executive Officer who uses every opportunity to effectively raise the Union’s profile through organised events, functions and meetings.

Presenting the award, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “The Meirionnydd branch has been exceptionally pro-active in 2016 and have hosted a wide range of events and activities for members, as well as promoting the work of the Union in their local press and on social media.

“I congratulate Huw and Ffion on their success and thank them for their continued effort to highlight why #FarmingMatters. The award is very well deserved indeed.”

The county branch had a busy and successful start to the year, hosting a special meeting to introduce the new EID Cymru system, holding 5 farmhouse breakfast functions and arranged a farm visit for then Prime Minister David Cameron to Tyfos Farm, Llandrillo.

In addition the Meirionnydd branch arranged hustings in the Meirion Dwyfor constituency for the Welsh Assembly elections, attended the  Meirionnydd YFC Rally at Tyncelyn, Dinas Mawddwy, and continue to build on their relationship with the YFC through sponsored events.

The county has further been at the forefront of highlighting the ongoing problem of access to broadband in rural Wales, and took the initiative of meeting with Martin Jones, Wales Operations Manager for BT, Rhodri Williams, Director of OFCOM Wales, and Liz Saville Roberts MP.

A busy summer saw the branch being heavily involved with the Royal Welsh Show as the feature county, the Welsh National Sheepdog Trials and International Sheepdog Trials, as well as their own county show at the Rhug Estate Corwen.

Huw Jones, the FUW’s CEO in Meirionnydd also walked the Offa’s Dyke Path for the President’s charity, BHF Cymru, raising the profile of the FUW in the process, as well as much needed funds for the charity.

Rounding off the year the County office highlighted renewable energy schemes, arranged a further 2 farm visits for local politicians and industry stakeholder groups, and held 10 successful branch meeting for members.