The Farmers’ Union of Wales today welcomed the granting of Royal Assent to the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014.

The Act will provide consistent legal powers across Wales, giving local authorities the power to seize, impound, return to the owner, sell, re-home or, as a last resort, euthanize horses by humane means when they are on land without lawful consent.

Welcoming the Act, FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said that over  recent years the number of  fly grazing incidents  have increased substantially, particularly in South Wales  where large numbers of horses  have been dumped on private and public land, resulting in major welfare problems for animals of little value and significant implications for  public safety when straying onto public highways on the farming sector as well as the resource implications for local authorities, equine charities and the tax payer.

“Earlier last year the FUW contributed to the Welsh Government consultation which looked at the actions and legislative changes that might be needed to deliver a long term solution to tackle the issue of fly grazing and the abandonment of horses and ponies in Wales and worked with Welsh Government to come up with ideas which have now been incorporated into the new Act,” Mr Williams added.

A recent bingo evening organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales Carmarthenshire county branch at The Talardd Inn, Llanllwni, to raise funds for the union president's charities T? Hafan a T? Gobaith was a big success, raising £380.

"We are delighted with the response from the local communities who were extremely generous in their support and contributions," said county executive officer David Waters.

[caption id="attachment_2736" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] - HOUSE: From left, bingo caller and FUW Ceredigion member Adrian Colbourne, FUW Carmarthenshire member Gwenda Davies who helped organise the event and FUW North Carmarthenshire area officer Gwion James[/caption]

The first in a series of Farmers' Union of Wales farmhouse breakfast functions to celebrate the annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week was kick-started yesterday (Monday January 27) by the union's Meirionnydd branch at Parc, near Bala.

The well-attended event at a disused school now being used as a village hall also raised £650 towards union president Emyr Jones’ charities Ty Hafan and Ty Gobaith.

Mr Jones said: “I am extremely grateful to everyone who came to support the breakfast and I would like to thank Olwen and Nia Davies for being great hosts.

“We have started Farmhouse Breakfast Week extremely well and raised a good amount of money for the charities. I hope all the other breakfast functions across Wales go just as well as this one."

FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones thanked the event's sponsors - local butchers T J Roberts & Sons and Cigydd y Bala; Wyau Berwyn Cyf, Blaengwnodl Isaf, Cynwyd; Booker Cash & Carry, Rhostyllen; Blodau Rhianfa, Bala; Co op Store, Bala; and Spar, Bala - for their support.

He said he's now looking forward to the branch's next farmhouse breakfast on Friday January 31 (at 8am and 11.30am) at Mr and Mrs R J Breese's farm, Gogarth, Pennal, which local AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas is expected to attend.

[caption id="attachment_2733" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Olwen and Nia Davies, Ty Cerrig with FUW staff and helpers[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is today reminding further education students of the entry deadline for its student bursary worth a total of £1,500.

The union is once again offering a bursary aimed specifically at further education students with an award of £1,000 to the winner and £500 to the runner-up.

The bursary follows last year’s format with applications being requested before the April 7 closing date. The bursary is specifically aimed at assisting college students studying an agriculture or land-based subject.

FUW agricultural education and training committee chairman Alun Edwards, who is keen to attract more applications from further education students, said: “Applications for the further education bursary are now open and it is centred on the practical nature of the courses being studied.

“By making these changes last year we hope to attract a greater number of applications and we look forward to receiving this year’s entries.”

It is a condition of the award that short-listed candidates attend an interview to discuss their submission during the period leading up to the 2014 Royal Welsh Spring Festival on Saturday May 17 when the successful candidates will be announced and presentation of the bursary cheques made.

To apply for the bursary, applicants must complete the application form and either write an essay of a maximum of 1,500 words on one of the following subjects:

• How I will utilise the skills I’ve learnt at College in my future career.
• What is your favourite course at College and why?
• Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Or, applicants can use one of the following options to showcase a project they have been working on, either as part of their course, in the workplace, or at home.

• Written diary report
• Photo documentary
• Video diary

Applications can be submitted via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (file size must not exceed 10MB). Attached files up to a maximum of 25MB can be submitted to either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Students may also submit electronic copies on disk format. All projects need to be submitted in Microsoft accessible format.