A Bingo night organised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales Carmarthen branch has successfully raised £340 for British Heart Foundation Cymru.

The event was held at Talardd Arms, Llanllwni, on Tuesday, 17 January and was well attended by members and friends of the Union.

David Waters, the County Executive Officer for Carmarthenshire , said: “I would like to thank you all for joining us for a fun evening of Bingo. It’s our first fundraiser of the year and it was a good laugh.”

BHF are the nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer and their pioneering research has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions and their work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are helping to change the face of the UK’s fight against heart disease.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has expressed great disappointment that HSBC are closing nine of their branches in Wales.

Affected by the decision are Maesteg in Bridgend county, Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, Fishguard and Narbeth in Pembrokeshire and Churchill Way, as well as Holyhead on Anglesey, Holywell in Flintshire, Llanrwst in Conwy county and Knighton, Powys.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “The closure of rural banks will have a detrimental effect on these areas, as they serve not only villages and small towns but many of the neighbourhoods in surrounding areas, as well as providing employment to local people.

“It will be a great loss to residents and local businesses, particularly the elderly or residents who are unable to travel to the nearest town. The closures will of course also affect small businesses, as they will have to travel further afield for their banking needs.

“In addition, internet banking is not always an option in rural areas; many people will not have an appropriate internet connection if they have a connection at all, and especially the elderly may not be familiar with IT and the process of doing their banking online.

“For many telephone banking is impractical, as they prefer to deal with their personal finances on a one-to-one basis and mobile banking is limited in many rural areas. It is worth considering as well that some people may not be able to get to mobile banks during the short time they are present in villages.

[caption id="attachment_7583" align="alignright" width="300"] It will be a great loss to residents and local businesses, particularly the elderly or residents who are unable to travel to the nearest town. The closures will of course also affect small businesses, as they will have to travel further afield for their banking needs.[/caption]

“With more and more rural services and businesses being closed down, we must also acknowledge that it is becoming less and less attractive for young families and indeed business owners to remain in the countryside.

“If the problem of rural depopulation is not addressed with some urgency it could have severe consequences for our rural communities and with that also our rural economy.

“It is clear that if we want to ensure that Wales develops its full potential in being a rural economic powerhouse, we must make it attractive for working families to stay and also encourage vital services like business banking to remain available in our countryside.

“The provision of acceptable broadband services is an increasingly critical part of meeting the needs of rural Wales.”

The first breakfast in Carmarthen, tomorrow - 26 January, has changed location!

The breakfast is now held at The Warren, 11 Mansel Street, Carmarthen. It starts at 8.30am and Emma and Neil Rose of Rhosyn farm are in charge of breakfast, using their own home-made sausages, bacon, black pudding and fresh eggs straight from the farm.
For more information contact the Carmarthen office on 01267237974.

[caption id="attachment_7576" align="alignleft" width="300"] INSPECTING THE NEW MILKING PARLOUR: From left, Caernarfon county chairman Tudur Parry, Owain Roberts, Liz Saville Roberts, Rhydian Owen, Caernarfon county executive officer Gwynedd Watkin and Dafydd Owen.[/caption]

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts was reminded by Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) members that the contribution made by lowland farms to the rural economy is vital during a farm visit hosted by Chairman of the FUW’s  Milk and Dairy Produce Committee Rhydian Owen.

The visit was held on Friday, January 20 at Trewen, Botwnnog near Pwllheli, a business run by Mr Owen and his parents Dafydd and Enid Owen.

Speaking about the local economy, Mr Owen explained that businesses like theirs annually contribute millions of pounds to the rural economy. Over the last 3 years Trewen farm itself has contributed over £150,000, while similar figures had been spent locally by others present.

“If these lowland farms are forgotten during Brexit talks the economic impact would be catastrophic, resulting in further de-population of rural communities,” said Mr Owen.

Local business representatives alo showed their support for the industry, emphasising the numbers not directly involved in farming but who nevertheless depend on the industry.

“Many rural businesses rely on the agricultural industry for income, including agricultural suppliers, contractors, mechanics and retailers.

“Under the current financial climate the future of such businesses would be jeopardised if support was not continued in both the uplands and lowlands of Wales,” said Mr Owen.

The FUW stressed that politicians on a local, Assembly and Westminster level need to be aware of the complexity of agricultural supply chains and the wide network of businesses which depends on the farming industry.

Liz Saville Roberts voiced her support, stating: “It’s imperative that the Welsh Government are given the responsibility of delivering appropriate support to the industry in order to address local needs that are very different to those across the border.

“There is no certainty as to what will happen to agricultural funding after 2020, and three years is a very short time for farmers and those who rely on the industry who need to plan ahead.

“I would urge the industry to take every opportunity to explain the critical importance of dairy and livestock farming to the Welsh economy.”

Those present agreed that the devolved regions of the UK should work together to develop a mechanism to prevent distortion between agricultural producers in different regions, thus allowing the Welsh Government to fine tune policies in order to cater for Wales’ specific needs.

[caption id="attachment_7577" align="alignright" width="300"] ENJOYING GLASU ICE CREAM.[/caption]

Mr Owen added: “The latest financial figures show that without direct support via Pillar 1 most businesses would not survive, meaning the loss of a multi-billion pound multiplier effect that brings vast benefits to Wales’ economy.

“Wales needs to take a strong position on maintaining the budget, just as it did during the negotiations over the CAP budget - or risk a net fall in our overall funding allocation, with dire knock-on effects for our entire economy.”

Following the visit to Trewen, two newly formed businesses were visited, both being diversification ventures on dairy farms on the Ll?n Peninsula.

Glasu is a business established by FUW members Dylan and Annwen Jones of Bryn Rhydd, Edern, Pwllheli who run a 300 acre dairy farm milking over 200 cows. Dylan and Annwen decided to diversify in 2014 into making ice cream from milk produced on the farm to supply local shops and eateries.  In March 2016 they took on the lease of a premises on the Maes in Pwllheli and have established a successful ice cream cafe.

Dylan and Annwen’s daughter Elliw and her husband are in charge of the shop whilst the parents concentrate on making the ice cream on the farm in Edern. They now employ 2 people full-time and have up to an extra 6 part-time staff over the peak tourist season. Things are going well and the family are planning on extending the business in the very near future.

The last visit was to Pwllheli’s Glan Don Industrial Estate where Llaethdy Ll?n have occupied one of the units since last August. Llaethdy Ll?n is owned by Sion and Nia Jones of Madryn Isaf, Boduan, Pwllheli. Sion and Nia run a 100 acre dairy farm in Boduan, milking over 80 cows. They diversified into processing the milk produced by their dairy herd at Madryn Isa last August after realising the possibilities of adding value to their milk and ensuring the stability of their business and the future of their three children Ela, Tomos and Anna.

[caption id="attachment_7578" align="alignleft" width="300"] HEARING ABOUT LLAETHDY LL?N: Sion Jones giving a talk.[/caption]

After months of market research and experimenting they managed to secure the premises at Glan Don to process liquid milk and produce cream. The business is already employing two full time and two part time members of staff. Local retailers all over the Ll?n peninsula and as far away as Brynsiencyn on Anglesey have been very supportive, with additional customers being attracted every week.

Both businesses appreciated the input by consultants from Cywain and also the assistance given at the Food Technology Centre in Pencraig, Llangefni. Cywain consultants gave valuable input into designing labels and ensuring that all the legal aspects of the marketing were addressed, whilst different products were developed at the Food Technology Centre. Without the input of both establishments neither business would have been established.

Caernarfonshire County Chairman Tudur Parry congratulated both businesses for having ventured and invested in equipment and for having the courage to do so. Mr Parry said:“Too many of us here in Wales are scared of having a go and of failing. Here are two prime examples of why you shouldn’t be scared at all.”

Dylan Jones said: “I’d rather have tried and failed rather than regret not having tried at all, and I advise all to think and take advantage of every opportunity there is.”

Sion Jones added saying: “There is assistance out there, use it, then at least you know where you stand and can assess properly if it’s worth going for it.”