Carmarthenshire farmers expressed their views about the proposed Brechfa windfarms connection project during a well attended meeting organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales county branch at nearby Peniel community school hall.

"A lot of issues were raised and useful advice provided by Philip Meade, of the FUW's Oswestry-based property consultants Davis Meade, and solicitor Rhodri Jones from Agri Advisor of Pumsaint," said the union's Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters.

"Among members' concerns were the potential implications of the project on a variety of issues including planning, land rights, land agents' fees costs and guidance to landowners."

The project involves Western Power Distribution (WPD) providing a connection between the proposed Brechfa Forest windfarms and the electricity network, said Mr Waters.

"As the electricity distributor throughout Wales, they have a legal responsibility to connect the new power generation to the electricity network.

"WPD is not involved with the development of the proposed wind farms. Their plan is to provide a network of electricity lines carried on twin wooden poles from the wind turbines and connect to an existing overhead power line running from Llandyfaelog, south of Carmarthen, to a sub-station north of Swansea, thus reducing the length of the new connection."

Proposed routes and summary packs have been sent to potential affected individuals along the proposed routes and consultation events have taken place recently.

[caption id="attachment_2845" align="aligncenter" width="224"] ISSUES RAISED: From left, FUW vice president Brian Walters, Philip Meade and Rhodri Jones.[/caption]

A huge load of silage donated by West Wales farmers has just been delivered to a Somerset farm that suffered severe flooding recently.

The consignment was the first load of bales to be loaded at Carmarthen Market for Somerset and was taken to Batch Farm at Godney, near Wells, on a lorry supplied by hay and straw merchant Lyndon Jones, of Rhos, Llangeler, near Llandysul.

The operation was organised by Carmarthenshire animal portraits artist Miranda Bowen who is helping Farmers' Union of Wales Ceredigion county chairman Aled Rees coordinate deliveries to the West Country from West Wales.

Mr Rees said: "This latest consignment brings the loads that have left Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire so far to a total eight with another one being loaded this morning in Cardigan."

Last Saturday a load of fodder went to a Somerset from the farm of FUW member Maelgwyn Davies of Panteryrod, Llwyncelyn, near Aberaeron, that he and fellow members in the Mydroilyn area donated.

Tomorrow (Thursday April 17) 40 bales of hay silage - donated by FUW member Lyn Thomas, Pantfeillionen, Horeb, Llandysul - are due to be delivered to Paul Lock's farm, Whitegate, at Stembridge, near Taunton, and plans are also being made to send more loads next week to farms in neighbouring Martock and Langport.

"We continue to receive pledges of forage so the whole operation is going well," said Mr Rees. "Hauliers are great too, making it easy to work with the farmers. It just shows what people can do when they pull together."

[caption id="attachment_2841" align="aligncenter" width="300"] SOMERSET BOUND: Consignment of bales being loaded at Carmarthen Market[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2842" align="aligncenter" width="293"] Carmarthenshire animal portraits artist Miranda Bowen[/caption]

Members of the Farmers' Union of Wales Glamorgan county executive committee have met Welsh MEP Jill Evans and Scottish MEP Alyn Smith at county chairman Richard Walker's farm to tell the politicians the impact they expect from the current CAP reform proposals.

The MEPs were keen to discover how the proposals were impacting on Glamorgan FUW members and were told that a lack of information and guidance on important policy issues was affecting their ability to make important business decisions.

This was particularly relevant with regard to the uncertainty over how the calculation of Single Farm Payment entitlements would be made in 2015 and confusion over the greening proposals.

Members were also keen to point out that the Welsh Government’s 15% top slicing of Pillar 1 Payments to fund Rural Development measures would place Welsh farmers at a significant disadvantage compared to their counterparts throughout the whole of Europe.

Members noted that the Scottish Government had agreed to include a minimum stocking level in their definition of an active farmer to be used in connection with the eligibility to claim Single Farm Payment from 2015 onwards.

There was also discussion over the Welsh Government’s sheep EID consultation and members were interested to learn the situation that existed in Scotland and to hear how the regulations had applied there.

County vice chairman Phil Thomas asked where legislation stood with regard to the de-beaking of laying hens as he was keen to learn the latest proposals from the European Commission with regards to this subject.

Both MEPs thanked Mr Walker, of Llancarfan, near Barry, and his mother for their kind hospitality and also the Glamorgan members for being able to spare the time to meet them during a busy period of the year.

[caption id="attachment_2838" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] From left, Alyn Smith, FUW finance and organisation committee member for South Wales Lorraine Howells, former FUW Glamorgan county chairman Glyn Jones, FUW deputy agricultural policy director Rhian Nowell-Phillips, Jill Evans, FUW Glamorgan acting county executive officer Glyn Davies and Richie Walker.[/caption]

Gwent's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Ian Johnston has met farmers and Gwent Police’s Farm Watch coordinator to hear first-hand how an online messaging system he supports has helped reduce farm crime by over 27 per cent in just five months.

Mr Johnston met Farmers' Union of Wales member Howard Vicary and other local farmers on Mr Vicary’s farm in Crumlin - that has been repeatedly targeted by thieves - to find out more about the Online Watch Link (OWL) system helping to combat farm crime.

OWL sends out targeted messages via email, phone or SMS alerts about crimes and problems to members like Mr Vicary who have signed up in communities throughout Gwent.

Between September 2013 and January 2014, Gwent Police Farm Watch coordinator CSO Allan Mills has helped increase Farm Watch membership using OWL from 300 to nearly 800 members.

Intelligence gained from the public via Farm watch has helped Gwent Police catch a series of criminals involved in farm and rural-related crime ranging from firearm crimes, crimes against animals to the theft of farm machinery, fuel and metal. The system enables local policing unit commanders to have a joined up approach regarding suspects across Gwent.

FUW's Gwent county branch has played a pivotal role in this success story, with county administrative assistant Helen Thomas actively involved by registering new members and keeping records on OWL up-to-date.

FUW county executive officer Glyn Davies and county chairman Chris Lewis are proud of the fact that the union has been able to assist in achieving such tremendous results and feel OWL gives farmers and other rural people a system to help police reduce crime further and give a greater sense of security.

Since September 2013, CSO Mills has worked full time as the Gwent Farm Watch coordinator.

He said: “Farmers are a special group as they are a bit isolated and hard to reach, but OWL helps break down those barriers and helps us coordinate policing with them.

“It’s the way I communicate with all farmers quickly and I receive regular intelligence about suspicious activity which I wouldn’t have otherwise. The system has enabled us to have a more coordinated approach to tackling farm crime in rural Gwent and allows us to gather vital information to share with the local policing unit commanders.

"The increase in membership means that we’ve got hundreds of extra pairs of eyes and ears out there in the farming community and the farmers now feel they are getting a better service by having instant access to us.”

Mr Johnston said: “The passion of Allan Mills and the other police officers working to enhance relationships with the farming community can’t be denied and I would like to thank all those people making this work because it’s making a big difference.

"Gwent utilises OWL brilliantly as a whole and we now have over 37,000 members registered across all the watches. It’s a great example of police working with partners and members of the community to achieve common goal - to make Gwent a safer place.”

[caption id="attachment_2834" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Allan Mills, Howard Vicary and Ian Johnson[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2835" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From left, Chris Lewis, Helen Thomas and Ian Johnson[/caption]