Today the Farmers’ Union of Wales is celebrating its 60^th anniversary and we are hosting an informal visit to explore the different views of those who have been actively involved in the set-up of the FUW 60 years ago and those who have just joined the organisation.

For this we are excited to visit Roy and Nerys Edwards and their four sons at Groesasgwrn, Llangynderyn, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

Roy was the winner of Fferm Factor for the year 2014 and joined the FUW in May 2015 – making him the newest and one of the ‘youngest’ FUW members in the founder county. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZip3Bb2I4c

Nerys’ time is split between being actively involved in the running of the home farm and helping her husband and keeping a successful occasion cake business ‘Cacennau Moethus’. http://tinyurl.com/qfuayv8

Joining us for the visit are Mr T Llew Jones MBE, a founder member of the union in 1955.

Farming has changed dramatically over the last 60 years and we look forward hearing about the challenges the farming community faced in 1955 and how these compare to the struggles but also opportunities the current generation of farmers have to deal with.

Following the farm visit we will travel to the Halliwell Centre, Trinity St David, Carmarthen – the venue for the 60^th anniversary dinner – and look forward to welcoming Lord Morris of Aberavon, who was actively involved with the formation of the FUW as the union's legal adviser and deputy general secretary between 1956 and 1958, as the guest speaker.

[caption id="attachment_5963" align="aligncenter" width="213"] FUW president Glyn Roberts (r) and FUW deputy president Brian Thomas congratulate the winning Fferm Ffactor team at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales Insurance Service is proud to be sponsoring a year’s free insurance for the brand new 2015 Isuzu pick-up worth over £20,000 – which was won by the former contestants’ team.

A shocking twist to the programme saw a team made of former contestants come back to challenge the other teams. 

The team, who harnessed their experience in a sustained assault on this year's title, was made up of Bala farmer Rhodri Jones who teamed up with Tywyn farm manager Rhys Williams and Llandysul producer Heilin Thomas to create the arduous team, which included two former semi-finalists.

FUW Insurance Services managing director Mark Roberts said: “We’re pleased to be associated with Fferm Ffactor and the teams’ fantastic achievement and sponsoring the insurance on the new Isuzu is part of our determination to support young farmers across Wales.

“Sponsoring the insurance on the new vehicle also gives us the chance to show that we can offer competitive insurance rates for all rural-based businesses.

“FUW Insurance is supported by our field force of Account Executives and the management team, who work closely with farmers to make sure they have the cover needed to protect their businesses.

“Our staff understand the needs of the rural community and will be there when needed to give all our rural business customers a professional, locally-based service.”

This year’s competition saw a change to the format of the programme as teams, rather than individuals, competed for the 2015 Fferm Ffactor title.

Rhodri Jones, 37, who runs a beef and sheep farm in Llanuwchllyn, took part in the first series back in 2009.

Rhys Williams, who manages a 700-acre beef and sheep farm at Tywyn, was a semi-finalist in the 2013 series.

"The farming industry plays a major part in the economy of Wales and the show is a great showcase for it," said the 36-year-old.

"The challenges showed quite accurately the sort of jobs we have to do, so it was good to be involved again."

"It's been great to be involved in the show again," said Heilin, 28, who works on a family sheep, beef and dairy farm in Ceredigion.

Three new judges have joined Fferm Ffactor: Brwydr y Ffermwyr this year, and one of them being the FUW’s marketing and membership manager Caryl Gruffydd Roberts, who was bought up on a farm in the Conwy Valley.

Caryl Roberts, who was the first female judge on the programme, said: “This series of Fferm Ffactor is one to remember for many reasons. A new concept coupled with three brand new judges has made for an exciting programme and an excellent showcase for the industry.”

[caption id="attachment_5944" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW president Glyn Roberts views the plans for the livestock market refurbishment with local farmers.[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales president Glyn Roberts attended Cowbridge Livestock Market on Tuesday November 24, with members of the Vale Market Community Enterprise Group (VMCE) to display the plans for the livestock market refurbishment and development of the surrounding area to local farmers.

Glyn Roberts took the opportunity to discuss the proposed plans with members of the VMCE, FUW members, local farmers as well as the market auctioneers. The union has long been in support of the mart recognising that the closure of Cowbridge mart would remove a vital lifeline from the town and also make it necessary for farmers to travel far greater distances to sell their stock.

In 2013 the union contributed to a feasibility study in a bid to convince the Vale Council that it was profitable and vital to keep the mart open.

“Refurbishing this livestock market is a very exciting prospect. It’s not just an important vehicle to establish the SQQ (Standard Quality Quotation) of lambs to calculate dead weight price but the integration of local people who want to sustain the old tradition of a livestock market here in Glamorgan is well worth supporting. I am very pleased to see that agricultural industry and the local community want to market their products and work together for the good of the community,” said Glyn Roberts.

VMCE unveiled their proposals in the summer to encourage members of the public to support the renovation plans by purchasing Community Bonds.

All funds raised by the Community Bonds will be used directly towards building the market hall known as ‘The Exchange’ (www.theexchangecowbridge.uk) which will be used for a wide variety of purposes including a café and community shops.

After experiencing overwhelming interest in the Community Bonds both during and after the Vale Show, the VMCE have expressed their delight at the fact that only a limited number of Community Bonds remain available for purchase. Other fund raising opportunities will be announced in due course.

“The proposed scheme will produce many benefits to the market site as a whole, including the addition of much needed car parking facilities within the town centre, which will also provide the historical benefit of exposing the Cowbridge town wall which was built in the 13th century,” said FUW Glamorgan county executive officer Rachel Saunders.

While the VMCE continue to negotiate with the Vale Council about a definite start date for the proposed works, members of the VMCE hope that the work can commence on the site by 2017.

If any member of the public is interested in participating in the Community Bond scheme or wish to be registered on the database to receive updates, please contact Mandy Davies 01656 674001 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. website www.theexchangecowbridge.uk 

[caption id="attachment_5941" align="aligncenter" width="242"] Mathew Williams receives the Pembrokeshire FUW Countryside Business award from FUW Pembrokeshire county chairman Hywel Vaughan.[/caption]

An innovative dairy farmer, who has invested in installing a robotic milking system which enables him to keep the dairy herd in production, has been announced as the winner of the 2015 Pembrokeshire FUW Countryside Business award.

Mathew Williams, 34, of Glyn Llewelyn, Llanycefn, Clynderwen, was presented with the award on Tuesday December 1 at the Pembrokeshire County Executive Committee meeting in Haverfordwest.

The award is presented to an individual 40 years of age or under who has developed their own rural based business and the judges were looking for entries from a wide range of people including those who are farming in their own right; those who are providing a service to the agricultural sector or those who have started a rural based business.  

Glyn Llewelyn is a family affair and is now in being farmed by the third generation of the Williams family. Mathew’s father John has been farming there for nearly 40 years and it was previously farmed by his father Jimmy. Mathew Williams, who has been farming since he left Gelli Aur College at the age of 18, is married to Rhinedd, a primary school teacher and they have 2 children.

Daughter Cadi is 4 years old and goes to Maenclochog School and son Guto has just turned 2 and already loves being out on the farm, Mathew says.

Speaking about why he has chosen to continue the family business, he said: “I farm because I don't know any different-it’s in my blood. I was out on the farm with my father from a very young age and knew exactly I wanted to farm Glyn Llewelyn when I grew up.”

FUW Pembrokeshire county chairman Hywel Vaughan, who was on the judging panel, said: “In presenting this award we hope to highlight the fantastic work which young people are doing to keep the rural areas of Pembrokeshire vibrant and economically active places.

“Mathew is one of these inspirational people we have here in the county and in order to recognise his tenacity and determination to make his business a success and keep the family rooted in farming we are honoured to present him with this award.”

The Pembrokeshire FUW Countryside Business award includes a cash prize, perpetual trophy and a year’s free membership with the FUW.

In partnership with his parents, John and Eunice, Mathew Williams farms 150 acres and runs a dairy herd of approximately 90 cows and also operates a successful, busy, contracting business, which includes slurry pumping and tankers, silage production, hedge cutting and digger work.

Mathew Williams, who now enjoys spending more time with his family rather than being in the milking parlour for 6 hours a day, said: “We were facing quite a few problems before deciding on the robot, such as not enough grazing land surrounding the farm plus a road going through the farm making it difficult with the grazing system.

“Our previous abreast parlour had come to the end of its life and therefore we needed to consider our options and decided to install a new robotic milking system.

“The robot gives us the flexibility needed to continue with our contracting business and I am not  tied to a routine-not needing to milk at specific times during the day brings great advantages with it.

“The benefits with the robot are that the cows are milking up to 4 times a day and as such are producing more milk. They are also less stressed as they are working at their own pace and an added bonus is that I am now able to spend more quality time with the family.”

Despite the current problems facing the industry, he has a positive outlook on the future and high hopes for his young family.

“The dairy industry at the moment is struggling. Before the drop in milk price we were considering installing a second robot, but we then decided that it would be better not to put all our eggs in one basket and have gone down the route of rearing our calves.

“I'm hoping that things will improve in the milk industry in the near future and that my children will have the same opportunities I had to continue to farm Glyn Llewelyn.”