[caption id="attachment_6336" align="alignleft" width="300"] Solar Cells on the housing sheds at Pantyderi[/caption]

A beef and sheep farming family from Pembrokeshire have highlighted the benefits of solar power to their business but stressed the importance of improvement to infrastructure to further develop the sector.

Wyn and Glenda Jones, of Pantyderi and Trefach farms at Blaenffos, together with their son Eurig rear beef and sheep plus arable acreage for home consumption on both holdings which run to 1,000 acres in total.

Across the two businesses the family farm 70 suckler cows, 400 store cattle, and 2,000 breeding ewes. Since 1985, the family also offer self-catering cottages all year round.

In 2012 the Jones family decided to diversify into renewable energy and installed 104 kw of solar panels.

There are now two installations of 50 kw at Pantyderi and a 4 kw installation at Trefach for domestic use.

Renewable energy schemes produce more than 20% of the UK’s electricity, and EU targets mean that this is likely to increase to 30% by 2020.

The first 50 kw solar installation was put up in 2012 at Pantyderi and was followed by an additional 50 kw the following year.

The opportunity to diversify into renewable energy came as three-phase electricity was already on the farm with access to the main line. 

[caption id="attachment_6337" align="alignright" width="169"] Wyn and Eurig checking on the morning's energy production[/caption]

And when Western Power decided to upgrade the existing transformer on the farm in 2012, which had been there since 1945, it was too good a chance to miss.

Wyn paid an extra £3000 towards putting a bigger transformer up, which then paved the way for the second installation in 2013. The payback time for the initial investment is 6 to 7 years and the installation is index linked for 20 years.

The Feed-in Tariff (FiT), from which the business benefits, is designed to support small scale renewable installations up to 5MW.

Through FiTs, generators like the Jones family, are paid a tariff for every unit of electricity they produce. Any electricity not used on site can then be sold back into the Grid.

“We make a saving of about £5000 a year between the two units, with each of them generating approximately £7000 worth of electricity a year.

“The surplus energy we don’t use on the farm is exported back to the national grid. We receive about 14.5 pence for generating each unit and receive 4.5 pence per unit for the surplus we feed back into the grid,” explains Wyn.

“This means that we are totally self-sufficient in our electric use on the farm and all of this is produced by the sun. Even though we don’t get as much sunshine here as some other countries, it was well worth the investment,” he added.

However, when wanting to expand the current installation of solar cells, as there was plenty of room on the farm buildings, the family hit a brick wall.

Following some enquiries they were told that there was no more capacity in the grid as the infrastructure was not there to support any extra energy produced.

“We were really keen to expand our solar cell installation but because the infrastructure could not cope with any more energy being fed into the grid it was impossible. The country has a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and its reliance on fossil fuels, so it was very disappointing for us.

“Renewable energy production is also another way for us farmers to increase our income stream and diversify our businesses.

“We can’t just rely on the price we get paid for our produce anymore, so anything we can do to support ourselves needs to be supported by government and as far as renewables are concerned also the energy companies,” added Wyn.

He added that many more farm businesses would be able to make an investment into renewable energy as a viable form of extra income that was index linked, if only the right support was out there for them.

The Union fully supports the development of appropriate on-farm renewable energy sources, and believes Wales has only scratched the surface in terms of the contribution Welsh farms can make to green energy production.

“Despite Wales’ being perfectly suited for some forms of renewable energy generation,the percentage of electricity generated in Wales from renewable stands at just 10 percent – 5 percent lower than the UK average, and the lowest of all the UK devolved regions,” said FUW Land Use Policy Officer Bernard Griffiths.

[caption id="attachment_6338" align="alignleft" width="300"] Father and Son team - Eurig (left) and Wyn (right)[/caption]

“The decision in 2015 by the UK Government’s Department for Energy and Climate Change, which has responsibility for major national energy projects, to suddenly and drastically reduce support for renewables not only compromises our ability to help mitigate climate change, but has also led directly to farmers and others losing significant sums already invested in unfinished projects,” added Mr Griffiths.

In light of this the FUW called on Welsh Government to carefully consider the outcome of the Welsh Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability Committee’s Smarter Energy Future for Wales inquiry and to seek alternative and innovative ways in which funding can be provided in order to develop on-farm energy production.

In addition, there has to be a stronger commitment from energy companies to invest in improving infrastructure to allow those farms not currently connected to also access the renewable energy market.

The Union further asks of the Welsh Government to identify those barriers to on-farm energy production which fall within its remit and seek to reduce bureaucratic burdens which prevent or add to the financial and time burdens which prevent developments.

Mr Griffiths added that it is vital for the Welsh Government to work with Ofgem and the UK Government to ensure the costs of connection to the National Grid by electricity companies are fair and proportionate and that it encourages and facilitates the use of wood and other carbon-neutral sources of energy while ensuring food production is not compromised.

[caption id="attachment_6303" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright[/caption]

Following a recent Freedom of Information request made by the Farmers’ Union of Wales in response to Public Health England’s ‘Eatwell Plate’, the Union remains baffled by the dietary guidelines published.

The request was made by the FUW as the guide recommended that consumers reduce their daily amount of dairy produce intake to just 8 percent.

FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright said: “Some of the evidence provided under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act related to reports conducted by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) on trans fatty acids, iron, health, energy and nutrition.

“However, much of the FOI concerned the modelling work which was undertaken to establish the Eatwell Plate in a way which would give ease of use to the consumer.

“This was of much less concern to the FUW than the methods used to scientifically justify the prominence of each food group.”

Unfortunately, whilst the FOI demonstrates the inconclusive nature of some of the detrimental claims about dairy products, studies which demonstrate the positive effects of dairy on health factors such as bone density and blood pressure gain much less prominence.

Moreover, the FOI did not provide any suitable clarity on the methodology used to reach the conclusion that dairy should contribute just 8 percent daily intake.

“The FUW remains bitterly disappointed by the original healthy eating guide issued by Public Health England and the information provided under the FOI has done little to mitigate existing concerns about the basis for this work,” added Dr Wright.

The Union remains unconvinced by the changes made to the Eatwell Plate and is seriously disappointed by the information provided under the FOI.

Dr Wright further said that it is essential that proper and rigorous scientific evaluation of dairy dietary research has been conducted in order to ensure that consumers understand the value of dairy products in the diet.

The FUW would therefore welcome further engagement in this process in the future in order to ensure that any negative presumptions about dairy produce do not unduly influence the final decision making process of consumers.

The Montgomeryshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has organised a Welsh Assembly election hustings on Monday, May 2 at Welshpool mart.

The event, which commences at 12 noon, will welcome Jane Dodds (Liberal Democrats), Aled Hughes (Plaid Cymru), Russell George (Conservative), Des Parkinson (UKIP), Richard Chaloner (Wales Green Party) and Martyn Singleton (Labour).

Each of the candidates has been allocated time to outline their party's position before questions from the audience are welcomed.

FUW County Executive Officer Emyr Wyn Davies said: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our members and friends of the Union to join us for this important event.

“If you’re taking cattle to the mart on Monday, don’t miss the chance to join us for this important event. As it is a bank holiday, why not bring family and friends as well?
“It is paramount that we make an informed decision on May 5 and I urge you not to miss out on the opportunity to speak to your local election candidates.”

For more information contact the Newtown office on 01686 626 889.

[caption id="attachment_6323" align="alignleft" width="300"] FUW Anglesey County President Tom Jones, Mary Parry M.B.E with her "Parti Dawns Lan Mor" dancers and FUW President Glyn Roberts[/caption]

The island’s agricultural sector was strongly represented by Farmers’ Union of Wales officials during the recent Anglesey Day, hosted by Anglesey MP Albert Owen at Westminster.

The event has become an annual tradition at Westminster and the Union was once again proud to fly the flag for Welsh agriculture and demonstrating its commitment of working for rural Wales.

Following the event, FUW President Glyn Roberts, said: “It has been absolute pleasure to once again promote and highlight the quality of Anglesey produce here at Westminster.

[caption id="attachment_6324" align="alignright" width="300"] FUW Anglesey County President Tom Jones, Welsh born Hollywood actor Julian Lewis Jones and FUW President Glyn Roberts[/caption]

“It is always a great opportunity to take our message to London and the event gave us the chance to meet with many MP’s from all the political parties, not least of all leader of the Labour party Jeremy Corbyn.

“We reminded Mr Corbyn that the FUW is the only Union recognised by the UK government to exclusively speak on behalf of Welsh farmers and that the Union has done so at the highest level – at the National Assembly, Whitehall and Brussels.

“In addition we were pleased to reinforce the message that the FUW was the first farming union to pledge its support for the ‘Stronger In’ campaign.

“We further discussed entry level accommodation, a hot topic on Anglesey and indeed throughout the UK.”

[caption id="attachment_6325" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn and FUW President Glyn Roberts[/caption]