[caption id="attachment_7003" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sian Gwenllian, AM for Arfon, FUW’s Caernarfonshire County Chairman Tudur Parry and FUW Caernarfonshire County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin[/caption]

The Caernarfon branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has met with local Assembly Member for Arfon, Sian Gwenllian, to discuss #FarmingMatters.

Amongst the many topics on the agenda, Union officials discussed the future of trade agreements, post-Brexit incomes, and the threat to trade negotiations posed by bovine TB.

“I would like to thank Sian Gwenllian for meeting with us and for the wide ranging discussions we had. With regard to the imminent trade negotiations with the EU and other regions, we made it clear that the UK’s current reliance on imported food means there will be considerable political pressure to secure cheaper food supplies from outside the UK in order to avoid food price inflation.

“So to avoid those food price rises, it is really important that new trade policies give Welsh producers maximum benefits, both in terms of export and domestic markets. We have to ensure that absolutely everything is done to make sure that supermarkets and other private sector bodies support our producers here at home and that UK food production and the viability of our agricultural sectors is not undermined,” said FUW Caernarfonshire County Chairman Tudur Parry.

Talking about post-Brexit incomes, Union officials reminded the Assembly Member that during the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak Welsh Farmers lost £65m (£98m in today’s terms) mainly through the export ban and that around 75% of Welsh farm incomes come from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Tudur Parry added that to keep already low incomes where they are in the absence of the CAP, profitability of production would have to quadruple.  Mr Parry drew attention to Brian Gardner’s ‘Preparing for Brexit Report’, which predicted that the numbers of small and medium sized family farms would decline post Brexit, with rationalisation of the sector into much larger units. UK food self-sufficiency would fall and a much greater share of the agricultural commodities consumed in the UK would be imported from places such as N and S America, Australia and New Zealand.

“This further exposes producers to global marketplace price and supply volatility as factors such as adverse weather, disease and poor harvests contribute to fluctuating supply. The adverse impact would extend up and down supply chains and to the rural economy in general, having a particularly extreme impact for small and medium sized towns where the agri-sector is a large contributor to the wealth of such areas,” said Tudur Parry.

“In addition we reminded Sian Gwenllian that the FUW called for an Individual Member’s debate on the subject of bovine TB and welcomed the support for the motion the Union has received to date. We also urged her to throw her support behind the debate, which is taking place on Wednesday 28 September.

“Every single AM needs to recognise that the problem of bovine TB in Wales will have catastrophic consequences for our future trade negotiations if the disease status in our wildlife is not addressed as a matter of urgency.

“We made it clear that this debate is an opportunity for cross-party co-operation on an issue which has significant emotional and financial implications for many farmers in Wales and we need the support of the whole Assembly to achieve a change in policy,” added Tudur Parry.

The FUW further emphasised the importance of honouring current Glastir agreements and any new schemes agreed prior to Brexit.

The Wales State of Nature Report 2016 provides welcome recognition of the important role played by farmers in conservation, but places misguided emphasis on some environmental factors, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has said.

Responding to the report, FUW Land Use Committee Chairman Gavin Williams said: “While we would certainly not agree with some of the assertions made in the Welsh State of Nature Report, I welcome the fact that it is far more balanced than the UK report in terms of recognising the positive role of farmers in conservation, and the validity of concerns we have been raising for decades.”

Amongst those concerns are the fact that under-grazing – sometimes as a result of agri-environment scheme rules – is having a damaging effect on many species and habitats, said Mr Williams.

“It is heartening that 67 percent of the priority species assessed in the report are classified as stable or increasing in numbers. However, for those species which are not performing so well we do need to consider what actions must be taken.”

Mr Williams said that a proper assessment of the factors influencing such declines should be undertaken.

“The various state of nature reports across the UK recognise factors such as increases in avian and mammalian predators, and the abandonment of grazing, burning and cutting, all of which have a negative impact on species and habitats.

“There is a growing recognition of the environmental damage that under-management and the loss of farming has had, and would have if we were to see farming becoming even less financially viable, and these concerns are starting to be reflected in reports such as this.”

However, Mr Williams said there were still those who reach for the farming scapegoat whenever they are faced with problems, and remain in denial about uncomfortable truths such as the fact that growing numbers of predators are dining out on some of our most endangered species.

“Politicians and environmentalists need to be honest with themselves and the general public about factors such as predation, otherwise they risk causing further damage to the environment.”

Mr Williams emphasised that despite some differences, there was a vast amount of common ground between the farming community and the authors of the report, and that the FUW would continue to work with other bodies in order to secure an economically and environmentally sustainable future for Welsh agriculture.

“Our Farming Matters campaign emphasises the fact that farming is important to everything we have and do in Wales, and that includes our environment and the species which make Wales such a unique place,” he added.

The Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held a successful 24 mile Tractor Run on Sunday September 18, in aid of British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru, raising £540 for the charity.

The group of 27 tractors left Gwili Jones, Maesyfelin, Lampeter and traveled through Cwmann, and over the mountains to Llanddewi Brefi. The route continued across the Teifi Valley to Olmarch and the last leg went through Llwynygroes and Silian.

FUW Ceredigion County Executive Officer Mared Rand Jones said: “I am very happy with how much money we have managed to raise for our first ever tractor run – everyone enjoyed the route, so we can now build on it for an even bigger event next year!

“It was amazing to see so many people join us in the fight against heart disease. It was for such a good cause and I hope that we managed to  raise awareness of how much of a problem heart disease is across Wales and the whole of the UK.

“I would also like to thank all those businesses who have donated prizes for our raffle on the day, all those who have participated in the tractor run and helped to make this event such a success.”

With just two weeks to go until the Farmers’ Union of Wales is hosting The Wales Farm Conference, the FUW is reminding all those who have an interest in farming matters and opportunities for growth in rural Wales post-Brexit, to book their seat.

The conference will be held on October 6, at the RWAS Members Centre on the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, commencing at 9.30am.

Chairing the conference will be ITV Wales News and Current affairs journalist Catrin Haf Jones.

The morning of the conference will hear Economist, Politician and Member of the ‘Vote Leave’ group of economists, Professor Warwick Lightfoot, speak about - “Economic opportunities and dangers going forward?”, HCC-Meat Promotion Wales Export Market Development Executive Deanna Leven will talk about trade and markets and Steve Keyworth Founder and Director of Environment Systems, an environmental and agricultural consultancy will talk about GIS and remote sensing technologies to environmental and agricultural applications.

The afternoon of the conference will hear Deputy Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and Nuffield Scholar Aled Jones speak about “Sustainability of agriculture through communities and community events”, Chief Officer for AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Tom Hind will address the topic of - “What’s a balanced result for trade negotiations?” and Welsh Government Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe will also give a presentation.

Each of the sessions will be followed by a panel discussion and provide the audience with an opportunity to ask questions.

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We are now in the final preparation stages for our Wales Farm Conference and are really excited to explore the many aspects and opportunities for growth in a post-Brexit world.

“The speakers we have lined up are extremely knowledgeable in their fields and they will certainly offer great perspectives and insight into what is to come in the future once we leave the European Union in regards to our economy, trade, technology and our social communities.

“If you have not booked your seat for the conference yet, and you have an interest in #FarmingMatters, I would encourage you to do so as soon as possible via our website fuw.org.uk/conference or by calling our head office on 01970 820280, as places are allocated on a first come first served basis.”