[caption id="attachment_6824" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes, FUW Vice President Richard Vaughan, David Jones MP, Minister of State for Exiting the European Union and FUW President Glyn Roberts[/caption]

The Chancellor Philip Hammond’s recent commitment to funding agricultural support until 2020 came as welcome news for the Welsh agricultural industry. There are however concerns amongst members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales that need to be addressed and these concerns were discussed when FUW officials met with David Jones MP, Minister of State for Exiting the European Union, at the Denbigh and Flint Show.

“Short term commitments are very welcome but there are still issues of clarity that need to be addressed. In the first instance the Chancellor’s statement needs to be localised to a Wales context by the Welsh Government. We really do need absolute clarity for individual schemes running now and upto 2020,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.

Mr Roberts further raised the point that there is the ongoing concern about what funding arrangements will be in place and how they will be controlled.

“We know that agriculture is a devolved issue, but the funding of agricultural policy is not, or not as yet. We therefore need to have an open and honest debate as to what the best way is to manage agricultural budgets post Brexit,” said the Union President.

The FUW’s final concern that is in need of urgent attention, relates to the existing levels of TB that are in excess of anything that will be acceptable to European trade negotiators.

“We fear that if we do not change our policy in relation to the management of Bovine TB in wildlife, our ability to establish trade deals with the European Union may be halted at the first step. Therefore we have asked the Minister to highlight this vital issue to fellow Ministers to ensure that they too are aware of the current threats to successful trade negotiations,” added Glyn Roberts.

[caption id="attachment_6821" align="alignleft" width="300"] (l-r) FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts, Llyr Gruffydd AM and FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes[/caption]

A delegation of Farmers’ Union of Wales officials met with North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd at Denbigh and Flint Show using the opportunity to highlight strategic challenges the UK could face in trade negotiations post-Brexit.

FUW Denbighshire County Chairman Rheinallt Hughes said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet with Llyr Gruffydd here at our county show to discuss many issues of concern to the farming community. A main priority for us was to highlight some of the strategic challenges we could face in future trade negotiations, such as our current bovine TB status. As an Union we are deeply concerned that the existing level of TB is in excess of anything that will be acceptable to European trade negotiators. Consequently, if we do not change our policy in relation to the management of Bovine TB in wildlife, our exports to the European Union, in a post-Brexit world, are under considerable threat.”

Mr Hughes further said that despite the announcement made by the Chancellor Philip Hammond that funding for agricultural support is secured until 2020, which was welcomed, there is a concern that funding after that will focus mainly on environment schemes that don’t support actual food production. In addition, he raised the point that there are many questions as to how current funding support will affect those with agreements under Wales’ rural development programme, making it clear that farmers across Wales need clarity - from Welsh and UK governments - so they can continue to run their businesses and plan for the future.

Union officials also raised the point that planning regulations in rural areas are too tight, which in effect makes it difficult for the next generation farmers to enter the industry and remain in their local communities.

“Our family farms lie at the centre of our rural economy, culture and landscape and it is imperative that Governments don’t undervalue the important role these family farms play. Therefore it is critical that agriculture and domestic food production is given priority during all trade negotiations with other countries and trading blocks and that bureaucracy and restrictions do not adversely impact or hamper Welsh and UK agriculture,” added Mr Hughes.

[caption id="attachment_6814" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW Caernarfonshire County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Arfon Jones, FUW Anglesey County Executive Officer Heidi Williams, acting FUW Denbigh and Flint County Executive Officer Gwennan Williams, FUW Meirionnydd County Executive Officer Huw Jones and North Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Griffith[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales County Executive Officers from Anglesey, Caernarfon, Denbigh and Flint as well as Meirionnydd have recently met with Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Arfon Jones, to discuss rural security issues - including theft of farm machinery, vehicles and also farm stock.

The meeting was held at the Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay and North Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Griffith also attended.

FUW Meirionnydd County Executive Officer Huw Jones said: “This was our first meeting with Arfon Jones since his election as Police and Crime Commissioner in May this year and I would like to thank the Commissioner for his time to discuss issues of rural policing and security with us. It is a very important topic for us at the FUW and indeed all of the agricultural community.”

In addition the delegation discussed the draft Police and Crime Plan for the next 4 years which will set out objectives for the force area, which will be issued for consultation soon.

“Chief Constables are responsible for the operational matters but the PCC’s set the local policing priorities and decide how Council Tax is spent on crime and policing issues.  As a Union we welcome the opportunity to be involved in these discussions,” said FUW Caernarfon County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin.

“We also had a long discussion on using the most recent technology to detect and combat crime in rural areas, such as cameras and smartphones and stressed that it is important to see police officers being present in livestock markets. The farming community are fully aware of officers whom they can contact for any help or assistance they require with rural crime issues and as a Union we look forward to continuing our working relationship with the police force. We will be discussing new initiatives with the Commissioner on how to continue tackling rural crime in the future without a doubt,” added Gwynedd Watkin.

The discussions further highlighted that the Police and Crime Commissioner was determined to retain the current structure for rural policing and that this is strengthened by 3 Police Community Support Officers recently appointed to the role -  a move the FUW welcomed.

Acting FUW Denbigh and Flint County Executive Officer Gwennan Williams pointed out the importance of on-line watch schemes, saying: “We discussed the benefits of on-line watch schemes and we are keen for these to be re-established.  Such schemes enable individuals or groups to communicate easily with the police, ensuring that messages regarding crimes are relayed to the agricultural community where there are obvious benefits. I look forward to continue our discussions with the Commissioner when he joins us at the Denbigh and Flint County Show.”

Road safety and and the threat of ‘Tractor distractors’ – tractor drivers using smart phones on roads, a topic of great importance to rural road users, was recently given a new push by the Anglesey branch of the FUW as they launched a new road safety campaign in cooperation with North Wales Police -  “Arrive alive don’t text and drive!”. The campaign is aimed at tractor drivers and those driving farm machinery on public roads and was discussed with Arfon Jones at the meeting.

FUW Anglesey County Executive Officer Heidi Williams said: “Using a mobile phone, sat nav or any similar device whilst driving means that your attention is distracted from the road and that, as we all know, is incredibly dangerous. It was good to talk to the Commissioner about this initiative, especially as studies over the years have shown that those of us who are using a hands-free or handheld mobile phone are slower at recognising and reacting to hazards – and if you’re in a farm vehicle like a tractor you all of a sudden become a very big hazard to yourself and other road users.

“Even careful drivers can be distracted by a call or text – and a split-second lapse in concentration could result in a crash. Therefor, we are delighted to work with North Wales Police to raise awareness of the problem and are asking drivers to switch off their phones before they drive off. Even if you’re using a hands-free phone you should avoid making or answering calls when driving. And if you call someone and they tell you they are driving, ask them to call you back when they have parked up safely.”

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner will also be attending Meirionnydd County Show on Wednesday, August 24.

[caption id="attachment_6811" align="alignleft" width="300"] Hannah Blythyn AM shows support for #FarmingMatters with FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales officials reminded newly appointed Delyn AM Hannah Blythyn of the important role Welsh agricultural plays in the rural economy, when they met at the Denbigh and Flint County Show (Thursday, August 18).

FUW Flintshire County Chairman Eurwyn Roberts said: “We were delighted to welcome Hannah Blythyn to our stand at the show and used the opportunity to highlight just how important farming is to our rural economy. 90% of farm incomes are spent in a 20 mile radius and it can’t be underestimated how much these family farms contribute to the rural economy.

“Therefore we stressed the point that future legislation has to favour food production, not least of all if we want to see the next generation of farmers succeed. Our young people need to be encouraged to stay in their local areas to ensure the survival of our communities. But there are some issues that need to be addressed to help the process, such as affordable rural housing, ensuring they have access to 21st century tools such as a reliable broadband connection and mobile phone signal, as well as providing a platform where they can kick-start their farming lives from. However, the older generation must not be forgotten in all of this. If we are to bring the next generation into farming we need to have an exit strategy for the older generation too.

“There is a critical timeline ahead of us that offers plenty of opportunity for us to shape the future we want and need here in Wales and the FUW is taking a lead role in shaping the arguments that will secure a future that is favourable to Welsh agriculture and rural life.”