Farmers have branded as "illogical, unobjective and unfair" the Welsh Government’s refusal to allow appeals against the incorrect categorisation of their land as moorland.

In January this year, natural and food minister Alun Davies announced that payments in the moorland area would fall to around 10% of the rates payable in areas outside the moorland area.

That moorland area is defined as land over 400m (1,312 feet) mapped as moorland in 1992 for the purpose of The Moorland Scheme.

Farmers' Union of Wales member John Yeomans, who farms with his wife Sarah near Adfa, Montgomeryshire, said: “On areas where my neighbours and I farm, that 1992 map was completely inaccurate, but we had no idea the mapping was taking place and there was certainly no offer of an appeal against the incorrect categorisation of our land.

"In any case, The Moorland Scheme was voluntary, and there was no suggestion that more than 20 years later the map would be used to cut our payments by 90%.”

Mr Yeomans described the minister’s decision not to allow appeals on objective grounds as "illogical, unobjective and unfair".

“If you took a seven-year-old child from the middle of London into our fields and asked them whether they thought it was moorland, they would give you a categorical ‘No’.

[caption id="attachment_2904" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Land farmed by John and Sarah Yeomans which has been categorised as ‘moorland’ by the Welsh Government[/caption]

"These areas are extremely productive improved areas of land, and no one in their right mind would describe them as moorland.

“By introducing the 400m line the Welsh Government has massively reduced the number of incorrectly mapped areas which would have led to appeals and legal challenges, so it makes no sense not to allow the remaining handful of areas like this to be eligible for appeals based upon objective criteria.”

Mr Yeomans’ comments come after the minister responded to correspondence from FUW president Emyr Jones highlighting the need for an objective appeals system.

Mr Jones’ letter stated: “During successive meetings …stakeholders emphasised the importance of having an objective definition of moorland and an appeals process to allow land to be removed from the map if it did not meet that definition – not least because the original moorland map is now almost a quarter of a century old, and was drawn up for a voluntary agri-environment scheme, not a compulsory area based payment scheme.

“We had been under the clear impression that this argument had been accepted, and are therefore concerned at recent suggestions by Welsh Government staff that grounds for appeals may be based upon administrative procedures rather than an objective definition of moorland.”

In his response, Mr Davies stated: “There will be two grounds for appeal. First of all, moorland for CAP payment purposes must have been mapped as having moorland vegetation when the 1992 moorland vegetation map was drawn.

"Secondly, if land appears on that map then it must now be at 400 metres or higher altitude. Thus the grounds will be clear cut and objective.”

Further correspondence from the Welsh Government has confirmed that even if an area was wrongly mapped as moorland in 1992 it is not eligible for appeal.

Mr Yeomans said: “Our land was wrongly mapped as having moorland vegetation in 1992 and is over 400 metres high, so it seems from what the minister and officials have said that there are no grounds for appeal.

“In fact, it seems that the only way of securing a successful appeal would be to prove that fields have sunk below the 400 metre land due to an earthquake or some other similar natural disaster.

[caption id="attachment_2905" align="alignnone" width="1024"] “If you took a seven-year-old child from the middle of London into our fields and asked them whether they thought it was moorland, they would give you a categorical ‘No’." - John Yeomans[/caption]

“This is ridiculous when you consider that since long before 1992 the vegetation on our land has comprised ryegrass and clover varieties, including many bred by Aberystwyth’s Plant Breeding Station.

"The land is not mapped as Open Access land under the CRoW Act, and was part of the Welsh Government’s demonstration farm network specifically because it was well managed grassland and not moorland.”

Mr Yeomans said he was discussing possible legal action with others affected by the minister’s decision.

[caption id="attachment_2906" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] "These areas are extremely productive improved areas of land, and no one in their right mind would describe them as moorland." - John Yeomans[/caption]

Welsh Government director general for sustainable futures Gareth Jones will be the guest speaker at the FUW's annual general meeting on Monday June 16 at 10am at the MedRus Conference Centre, Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth.

Mr Jones has been in his current post since March 2012 and his responsibilities span three departments: environment, agriculture and food (including energy policy and animal health and welfare); housing and regeneration; and culture and sport.

Coffee will be served from 9.15am until 9.45am when FUW president Emyr Jones will formally open the conference. Following a question and answer session with the guest speaker, the union’s internal, external and staff awards will be presented.

Plans are well under way for a range of activities on the Farmers' Union of Wales stand at the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Bala next week (May 26-31).

This is one of Europe’s largest youth festivals and the FUW has booked a large three-unit stand for this popular annual event and throughout the week members and visitors to the Eisteddfod can call at the stand for tea or coffee and light refreshments.

The ladies sections of the union throughout Meirionnydd have kindly agreed to be part of all the arrangements and the county branch is very grateful for their assistance and cooperation, said FUW county executive officer Huw Jones.

"One of the week’s highlights for the FUW will undoubtedly be the crowing ceremony on Friday (May 30). All the funds required for the union's sponsorship of the crown was donated by the FUW’s ladies section in the Penllyn and Edeyrnion areas of Meirionnydd and the county branch is immensely grateful for this very generous donation," said Mr Jones.

The crown was made by Mari Eluned from Mallwyd, near Dinas Mawddwy, who graduated with a first class honours Degree in jewellery and silver smithing from Loughborough University in 2006 and has since set up her own business producing unique jewellery that combines Welsh slate with silver.

She will be attending the FUW stand on Monday (May 26) at 2pm and on Friday (May 31), following the crowning ceremony, to give a short presentation on the theme of this year’s crown inspired by the spring season.

One area of the union’s stand will be allocated throughout the week to children’s activities that will include competitions and colouring activities. There will also be a story telling session at 1 pm on Monday (May 26) by popular local novelist Haf Llywelyn, from Llanuwchllyn, and there will be a warm welcome for young families.

Another popular event for the Monday will be a visit by well known Welsh international ladies rugby player Elen Evans, of Dinas Mawddwy, whose parents are staunch FUW supporters. "We are very proud of her close association with the union," said Mr Jones.

"Undoubtedly, a popular attraction for the entire week will be an extensive display of old crafts, old kitchen utensils and farming bygones by Mr Aeryn Jones of Llangwm. He is well known for being skilful in hedge lying and dry stone walling and also published a book in June 2013.

"There will be an opportunity to purchase his book 'Aeryn Llangwm - Moch Bach mewn Basged Ddillad' on the stand. He is also a national winner in recital competitions."

A part of the union’s display on the stand will also include photographs of Meirionnydd FUW members by the renowned photographer Chris Clunn, of Maentwrog, who published a book on the subject in 2011 and there will be a further opportunity to purchase a copy during the week.

On Wednesday (May 28) PC Dewi Evans, of North Wales Police rural crime team, will be present on the stand to talk about his recent initiatives combating crime in rural areas and give advice on crime prevention.

He is one of three rural liaison officers appointed as a direct result of Police Commissioner Winston Roddick’s initiative to increase rural police presence.  Mr Roddick will also be attending the FUW stand on Friday (May 30).

On Thursday (May 29) former FUW area officer Elfed Roberts will give a cooking demonstration on the stand for visitors to be able to taste welsh lamb and welsh beef. He will also give a demonstration of cutting a Welsh lamb carcass which should attract a great deal of interest.

"There will be a display of yoghurt produced by well known brand - Llaeth y Llan of Llansannan - whose founders Gareth and Falmai Roberts have a close association with the FUW and have kindly sponsored the display once again," Mr Jones added.

"Hufenfa De Arfon of Chwilog have also kindly agreed to donate samples of their well known brand Dragon Cheeses.  There will be an opportunity to taste samples of both these products during the week.

"Members of the union’s presidential team and staff will be present on the stand throughout the week to give an update on the FUW’s work and policies. There will also be members of staff from FUW Insurance Services to provide information or answer queries."

[caption id="attachment_2895" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] CROWN HANDOVER: FUW’s Penllyn and Edeyrnion ladies section members (from left) Beryl Jones, Ann Edwards, Alwen Davies, crown maker Mari Eluned, and Olwen Davies present the crown to eisteddfod executive chairman Hedd Pugh watched by (far left) FUW president Emyr Jones and (far right) Huw Jones.[/caption]

The £1,000 winner of the Farmers' Union of Wales bursary for further education students is hoping his success will lead to a face-to-face meeting with natural resources and food minister Alun Davies.

"I would take the opportunity to convey my enthusiasm for agriculture and question the Government’s plans to change the single farm payment scheme," farmer's son and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor Glynllifon agriculture student Huw Milwyn Lewis said.

As part of his bursary application 17-year-old Huw, who lives on the family farm at Sarnau Fawr Farm, Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, near Aberystwyth, submitted a 1,500-word essay on how he will utilise the skills he has learnt at college in his future career.

"Winning this bursary will certainly develop my self-confidence and give me the motivation to work on my future plans for the farm.

"To be known as a winner of a national bursary would also give me a unique status and good publicity for enthusiastic young farmers like myself.

"The financial prize is an added bonus and I will carefully plan how to invest the money in developing the Welsh Mountain ram breeding (Tregaron breed) programme.

"I would like to establish myself within the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society (Tregaron) and winning the bursary will be a way of getting the initial recognition within the group.

"I will ask my parents for 20 ewes from our Welsh mountain flock and, after studying the breed’s genetics in detail, I intend to invest the money in buying a ram of the highest quality to form my own flock.

"This would be the starting point of my own flock that I would nurture and develop with pride."

The £500 bursary runner-up, farmers's son Huw Carwyn Jones, of Ty Hen Newydd, Coedana, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey - another farmer's son studying agriculture at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor Glynllifon - submitted a photo essay about his experiences during a month's work experience near Stirling in Scotland.

He worked at the 3,000-acre Westerton of Cowrie enterprise comprising 14 separate farms running 250 pedigree Limousins and 100 Limousins cross Belgian Blues and selling around 40 bulls a year.

"As we have a relatively small farm, I’m aware that I will have to look for full time work outside our farm. So, I’m determined to learn as much as I can and my time at Glynllifon is the basis for this.

"I will be continuing my studies at Aberystwyth University in September. I’m aware that agriculture, like every other business, is very competitive so every experience and opportunity should be taken advantage of.

"As I have already been accepted for an agriculture degree course at Aberystwyth in September, my intention is to use the bursary money to buy a laptop for my studies.

"My IT skills are good and a laptop would give my work a more professional look as I don’t own a laptop at the moment. The look of whatever you’re producing is important, whether it's coursework or an animal." 

Selection panel chairman Alun Edwards said: "I would like to thank all the students who have entered this year's further education student bursary. The standard was once again very high.

"In this day and age it is even more important that further education gets this attention and it is a great opportunity for the FUW to raise the profile of further education and also strengthen our link with young people.

"These are the hands-on farmers of the future that have a strong business sense and realise that measurable skills and knowledge need to be applied to future proof their family business," Mr Edwards, chairman of the union’s agricultural and education committee added.

[caption id="attachment_2885" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (from left) Alun Edwards, selection panel member and FUW Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones, Huw Milwyn Lewis, Huw Carwyn Jones and panel member and FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts.[/caption]