[caption id="attachment_3531" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] STAFF AWARD: In January 2012 Mr Jones received the union’s highest insurance book growth award for a book that grew by 32 per cent. He is pictured with FUW president Emyr Jones (left) and deputy president Glyn Roberts[/caption]

ONE of the most familiar Farmers' Union of Wales faces Dei Charles Jones has retired after serving as an area officer in Meirionnydd for over 30 years.

He first began working for the union in July 1981. "It was a time when we didn’t have mobile phones or computers - how times have changed in 33 years," he said.

Recalling his early days with the union, he said: "When I went to collect my first three insurance renewals two of them cancelled their policies.

"But I had received a word of advice from an FUW stalwart when I was appointed who said you will lose policies but remember never close the gate on them by your response. They came back in a couple of years."

Mr Jones, who lives at Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, said it was always pleasing to be able to help members with their problems and there were plenty of them, from milk quota appeals to IACS which became the Single Farm Payment Scheme application forms.

"Another problem that arose was the Chernobyl nuclear fallout disaster and I remember an official of the Welsh Office telling farmers at an open meeting in Coleg Meirion to stop moaning as it would be over in six weeks. My area was still affected 26 years on."

Mr Jones also relished being given the responsibility of helping FUW life member Meurig Voyle with the caretaker/security of the union's pavilion during Royal Welsh Show week.

"That gave me great pleasure as I was meeting members from all over Wales and they became faces which I knew and yearly they would greet me as if they were close friends. It's been an honour to serve the union and its members for the past 33 years."

FUW Insurance Services managing director Mark Roberts said: “Dei has disproved the saying that ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. 

“I have been surprised at how he has embraced FUW Insurance Services’ new technology and I believe he was the first area officer to arrange a policy by electronic means rather than using a traditional proposal form and cover note. He even uses some of the computer systems that our youngest area officers find challenging.

“Dei will be replaced by local boy Emyr Evans, who returns to Frongain, Bala, from Dublin. Emyr realises that he has big boots to fill but is up for the challenge.

“Dei is always cheerful and willing to help and I will miss our little chats but as I sit in the same row as him in Wrexham Football Club’s Racecourse Ground, I know that I will continue to see him!

“I wish Dei a long and happy retirement.”

A new and fresher-looking union website was launched today (Tuesday December 2) by the Farmers' Union of Wales.

The site, which features improved search facilities and a new comprehensive archive for press releases and policy documents, has been redeveloped to make it more user-friendly.

"We are very happy to launch this re-vamped site during the 25th Royal Welsh Winter Fair and hope our members will find it easier to use,” said FUW president Emyr Jones.

“A cleaner look and more user-friendly structure, as well as the option to view the site through the medium of Welsh, has been achieved by working with a dedicated team over the past few years and we thank all of our staff who have helped in getting this new site online.

"The links to all of our social media channels and the Y Tir/Welsh Farmer website are clearly visible and we hope that users will find it easier to contact us through the relevant contact forms on each section of the website.

"A members only area will be added shortly as well and we look forward to working with Sproutee, who have been working so hard on this new site, to get this section up and running."

Deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans’s announcement this morning (Monday December 1) that the recommendations of the independent review into Farming Connect, commissioned by Welsh Government earlier this year, had been accepted in full was welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales.

The review, undertaken by Gareth Williams, makes a number of clear and helpful recommendations on what the next Farming Connect programme should include and considers the proposed approach to delivering knowledge transfer, advice and innovation under the next Rural Development Programme (RDP).

The union’s land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “Having contributed to the review we are extremely pleased that many of our ideas are reflected in the report.

“Ensuring closer relationships between industry and Welsh Government to deliver the RDP programme is welcomed, as is a greater emphasis on encouraging farmers to undertake their own business planning and longer term decision making.

“We also welcome the greater flexibility within the programme which will allow it to adapt to changing industry needs and the retention of the current intervention rates for knowledge transfer, One-to-One advice and training will help drive the industry forward.

“We look forward to working with Welsh Government to ensure that the next Farming Connect programme fully reflects industry needs.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales welcomed today’s announcement (Monday December 1) by deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans that 90% of Single Payments have been made on the first day of the payment window - but highlighted the impact of a 20%-plus fall in payment values.

Speaking at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, FUW president Emyr Jones said: “Once again the Welsh Government has hit a high payment target and we are grateful to all the staff who have worked hard to ensure money can be released on the first day of the payment window.

“However, the combined impact of a lower Pillar 1 budget, 15% Pillar transfer and the lower sterling exchange rate means a fall in farm payments of more than 20% compared with last year.”

Recently-released farm business income figures for the 2013-14 financial year showed a welcome 10% rise in overall farm incomes. However, incomes for the same period were down by 11%, to £19,200, on cattle and sheep farms.

“Farm incomes for the current 2014-15 financial period are likely to be considerably lower again due to the fall in lamb, beef and milk prices, so the 20% plus fall in single payment receipts will be harshly felt,” said Mr Jones.

“With the rural economy being so reliant on agriculture, there is likely to be a significant knock-on effect for the wider community.

“However, the cuts to the budget, pillar transfer and sterling exchange rate are beyond our control, and the FUW therefore continues to emphasise that rural development funds be used in a meaningful way to build a more profitable industry.”