Members and officials of the Farmers’ Union of Wales met Welsh Government minister for natural resources and food Alun Davies on three Meirionnydd farms to discuss the current state of farming in the uplands and the difficulties and challenges ahead.

The minister met FUW vice president Richard Vaughan at Pall Mall Farm, Tywyn, to discuss the future direction of the industry, the current consultation on direct payments under the CAP Reform and particular reference was given to the Glastir applications.

Pall Mall extends to approximately 50 acres and the family has successfully diversified and established  a caravan site with 100 pitches for static and touring caravans. The majority of the farm land is upland, extending to 500 acres at Rhydymain near Dolgellau.

Richard Vaughan keeps a flock of 700 Welsh mountain sheep together with 150 ewe lamb replacements.

The delegation, as well as local FUW members, then visited Berwyn and Helen Roberts, National Trust tenant farmers at Dolobran farm, Dinas Mawddwy. Dolobran extends to 350 acres of mainly hill and mountain land.

Mr  Roberts was a new entrant into farming in 2008 when he successfully obtained Dolobran. Members had the chance to express their concerns regarding the losses experienced during the inclement weather in the spring, the enormous increase in feeding costs and the effect on their businesses.

The day concluded with a visit to Talglannau, Mallwyd, farmed by Tegwyn Jones, his wife Catrin and sons Guto and Huw.

The minister was shown the powerhouse of one of their hydroelectric schemes and Tegwyn explained how his  diversification into hydroelectric generation brings extra income to the farm and enables Guto and Huw to gain employment from the farm holding.

Tegwyn built a 93kw hydroelectric scheme in 2001 which generates enough electricity for 70 homes and in 2011 completed a 100kw scheme which generates electricity for 90 homes. They are now planning another smaller 28kw facility.

After the visits FUW president Emyr Jones said: “I would like to thank the minister for meeting us today and giving our members the chance to express their views.

“We have had some good discussion on many subjects and the opportunity for dialogue was very much appreciated.”

[caption id="attachment_2556" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Minister Alun Davies with FUW county executive officer Huw Jones, FUW Meirionnydd county chairman O G Thomas, FUW Meirionnydd county president D T Ellis and FUW vice president Richard Vaughan[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2557" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Minister Alun Davies with Berwyn Roberts, Dolobran, Dinas Mawddwy, and FUW president Emyr Jones.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2558" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Tegwyn Jones, Talglannau, Mallwyd, with sons Guto and Huw and minister Alun Davies at the powerhouse[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales will highlight the importance of EU funding to the Welsh farming community and rural economy during the National Eisteddfod at Denbigh next week (August 3-10).

"Visitors to the FUW stand will have an opportunity to find out why it is vital that Wales, along with the UK, retains its membership of the EU," said the union's Denbighshire and Flintshire county executive officer Rhys Roberts.

One of the week's highlights will be a forum at the stand to discuss the pros and cons of EU membership for Wales and the UK featuring a panel of Conservative, Plaid Cymru, Lib Dem and UKIP politicians along with a member of the union’s presidential team.

The stand's central theme will be the Eisteddfod Crown to be presented to the winning bard at 4.30 on Monday afternoon August 5 for a collection of poems of no more than 250 lines in free verse. The title of the work is Terfysg (Riot or Uproar).

The winner will receive the Eisteddfod Crown and a prize of £750. The Crown was donated by the FUW's Denbighshire and Flintshire branches and the financial prize by Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd Cyf.

“The Crown was designed to highlight the stunning landscapes of the Vale of Clwyd and Clwydian Hills and the theme will showcase the links between, and the influences of, agriculture and the landscape and how that has formed over time," said Mr Roberts.

"Throughout the week we will also be focussing on the links between EU funding, agricultural practices and environmental management,” he added.

Visitors to the stand will be treated to a pot of delicious yoghurt from the Llaeth y Llan dairy in Llannefydd, kindly sponsored by proprietors Falmai and Gareth Roberts.

There will also be an opportunity to sample a variety of award-winning cheeses from the local Llandyrnog Creamery who are also supplying the milk for the traditional free cup of tea or coffee.

Mr Roberts added: "A display of locally produced food and drink will highlight the diversity of produce available in the Vale of Clwyd. It will be an excellent opportunity for members and the public to sample some of the finest locally produced food at the same time as finding out about the links between farmers, producers and the EU.”

Local artist Llinos Angharad Rogers, daughter of FUW members Huw and Glenda Rogers of Lodge Farm, Denbigh, will be present on Friday August 9 to showcase her artwork whilst creating a new piece live on the stand.

On Tuesday August 6, another local artist Elen Mair Jones will also be showcasing her sketching skills and examples of her work to visitors.

Throughout the week children of all ages will be able to enter competitions related to the Crown and to food production, with a range of prizes on offer to the winners.

Staff from Oswestry-based Davis Meade Property Consultants will also be present on Thursday August 8 to offer advice on a wide range of issues to FUW members.

“We are also looking forward to welcoming local AMs and MPs to the stand to discuss topical issues such as the CAP reform over a cup of tea,” said Mr Roberts.

[caption id="attachment_2487" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Andrew Coomber with the FUW-sponsored crown.[/caption]

Information about the latest Welsh Government consultation on the CAP reform proposals and advice on how to minimise the risk of incurring costly Single Farm Payment cross compliance penalties will be available at the Farmers’ Union of Wales stand during the three-day Pembrokeshire county show later this month (August 13-15).

Natural Resources Wales staff will also be on the stand every day between 10am and 2pm to assist farmers with re-registering their farm waste exemptions.

“New regulations introduced on 6 April 2010 changed the system of waste exemptions and farm-based exemptions registered before 6 April 2010 will expire on 30 September 2013," said FUW Pembrokeshire county executive officer Rebecca Voyle.

"By this date farmers will need to have registered for a new exemption and the show provides an ideal platform for our members to do this."

The old waste exemptions have been replaced by a completely new list of exempt waste activities and are now grouped into five categories: non-registerable exemptions - also known as Non-Waste Framework, directive exemptions, which don’t have to be registered; use of waste - U; treatment of waste - T; disposal of waste - D; and storage of waste - S.

Some of the new exemptions are almost identical to exemptions in the old system, some are similar but have different limits and conditions, and some are completely new.

Representatives of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), the grant-making charity that supports members of the farming community facing need, hardship or distress, will be at the FUW stand on Wednesday afternoon offering Christmas cards and 2014 calendars for sale with all of the proceeds going to the charity.

Glastir officers will be on hand every day of the show to answer questions farmers may have with regards to the scheme. They will also be able to help farmers complete the Glastir scorecard to establish what the scheme will mean for their farm.

Staff from Davis Meade Property Consultants and E-ON energy provider will offer advice on a variety of issues including rent reviews, compensation claims, on-farm renewable energy options and providing information about an energy cost savings initiative for FUW members. 

“The union is also looking forward to meetings local AMs and MPs during the show to raise issues of local concern including the proposed implementation of the CAP reforms and their impact on agriculture in Pembrokeshire, TB and commodity prices,” said Mrs Voyle.

The Farmers' Union of Wales will challenge Anglesey County Show visitors' taste buds in a burger and sausage taste test over the two days of the show (August 13-14).

On the first day visitors will get the chance to taste a lamburger and a beefburger, made by local butchers, and have the chance to guess what the secret ingredient is.

On the following day visitors can challenge their pork sausage taste knowledge by guessing what secret ingredient local butchers have used.

"It will be interesting to find out if tasters can guess the secret ingredient in the burgers and sausages which have been produced by local butchers. There will most certainly be an interesting culinary twist," said FUW Anglesey county executive officer Heidi Williams.

The taster sessions will take place between 11.30am and 12.30pm during the two-day event and the secret ingredient will be revealed after 3pm on each day of the show.

Staff from Davis Meade Property Consultants, Gamlins Solicitors and E-ON will also be on hand to offer advice on a variety of issues including rent reviews, compensation claims, on-farm renewable energy options and providing information about an energy cost savings initiative for FUW members.

Childrens' competition exhibits on display at the stand will feature the designs of Year 0, 1 and 2 winner "Drawing of any vehicle" by Nicole Roberts of Bodorgan Primary School; Year 3 and 4 winner  "Our House" using a computer programme by Osian Lloyd of Pencarnisiog Primary School; and Year 5 and 6 winner for the "View from my house" drawing by Elin Mair Roberts of Llanfairpwll Primary School.

Kev Bach of Heart FM will present the prizes to the competition winners on the second day of the show at 2.30pm.

Anglesey Grazing Animals Partnership Information and Carneddau Ponies will have representatives at the FUW stand on both days of the show.

“We would also like to invite showgoers to join us for the chainsaw sharpening and maintenance workshop, to be held on both days at our stand, as well as cookery demonstrations by celeb chef Melfyn Thomas and Rob Rothery, chef at Plas Rhianfa, who will be using locally sourced produce,” added Mrs Williams.