[caption id="attachment_2239" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW president Emyr Jones (second from right) with breakfast event sponsors' representatives (from left) E.ON business account manager David Foode, Alun Davies and Dai Davies.[/caption]

The leading reputation of Welsh farm produce was highlighted by the Farmers' Union of Wales today as Farmhouse Breakfast Week 2013 (January 20-26) got underway.

Union president, Bala beef and sheep producer Emyr Jones, reminded consumers the European Commission's PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status, which protects the reputation of regional food products, was awarded to Welsh Beef in 2002 and to Welsh Lamb in 2003.

"PGI assures consumers that Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef have full traceability, recognising the origin and unique qualities of the product," said Mr Jones.

"Only PGI Welsh Lamb and PGI Welsh Beef are guaranteed to be sourced from lambs or cattle born and reared in Wales, which are fully traceable, and have been slaughtered and processed in abattoirs or processors approved by Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales (HCC).

"HCC is also responsible for the development, promotion and marketing of pork from Wales," added Mr Jones, who attended the union's 14th annual Welsh farmhouse breakfast at the National Assembly in Cardiff last week and joins Welsh peers at the House of Lords on Wednesday January 30 for an FUW-organised event to celebrate Welsh farm produce.

During last week's Assembly breakfast deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies said the event was aimed at promoting breakfast and showcasing the best of Welsh breakfast produce which is becoming a cornerstone of the Welsh food calendar.

“Food is a priority for the Welsh Government and we are supporting the industry to develop and move in positive new directions, embracing new technology and advancements in research and development to put Wales at the forefront of food production.

“Food production is an important part of the Welsh economy and Wales offers a variety of quality products and I hope all of our partners will support the Welsh Government’s drive to promote these, including encouraging our partners to procure local food wherever possible.”

HCC chairman Dai Davies thanked the deputy minister for launching HCC’s new DVD "Feeding the Future" which promotes careers in the red meat industry.

"This is a crucial year for farming, with CAP reform and changes to future RDP programmes on the way. But thankfully, in our deputy minister, we have a safe pair of hands in charge of food and farming here in Wales.                                                                                                             

"He has worked hard not only here in Cardiff, but also in London and especially in Brussels where so many decisions that have a direct impact on the day to day life of ordinary farmers in Wales are taken.

"I hope that his approach to cut the best deal possible for farmers in Wales bears fruit."

From today breakfasts will also be held on a total of 10 farms in Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire and another at Bryncir livestock market’s cafe.

The Caernarfonshire breakfasts will be held on: Monday January 21 at Ty'n Hendre, Tal-y-bont, Bangor; Tuesday January 22 - Pant Eithinog, Penygroes; Wednesday January 23 - Glasfryn, Y Ffôr; Thursday January 24 - Bodwrdda, Aberdaron and Glyn Uchaf, Tynygroes, Conwy; Friday January 25 - Dylasau Uchaf, Padog and Caffi Anne's Cafe, Bryncir Mart.

Denbighshire breakfasts will be held on: Monday January 21 at Pontruffydd, Bodfari, Denbigh and at Ysgeibion Farm, Cyffylliog, Rhuthun and on Tuesday January 22 at Pen y Bryn, Maenan, Llanrwst.

The Flintshire breakfast will be held on Wednesday January 23 at Bach y Graig, Tremeirchion, St Asaph.

Anyone wishing to attend the farmhouse breakfasts should contact FUW's Caernarfonshire county office on 01286 672 541 or Denbigh and Flint county office on 01824 707 198.

Three influential speakers will address next week's annual general meeting of the Meirionnydd branch of the Farmers' Union of Wales.

FUW's Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones appealed for a strong representation of members from all parts of the county for the event which will take place at the Royal Ship Hotel, Dolgellau, on Friday January 25, commencing at 7.30pm.

He said today: "We have three excellent speakers this year in local MP Elfyn Llwyd, Dolgellau veterinary surgeon Iwan Parry and Menter a Busnes chief executive Alun Jones.

"The meeting will be an ideal opportunity to consider the future of the industry in the short and medium term," added Mr Jones who will make a presentation at the meeting on the union’s activities in the county during 2012.

Further details about the event can be obtained by contacting the FUW county office on 01341 422298 or by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today slammed a leading supermarket chain for dropping a major Welsh lamb processing plant from its list of suppliers and putting hundreds of jobs under threat.

The union's president Emyr Jones said farmers were extremely concerned that Asda, a key customer of Welsh Country Foods at Gaerwen on Anglesey, had decided to source its lamb from an alternative supplier.

Mr Jones has written to Asda's chief executive Andy Clarke and the Welsh Government's deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies seeking urgent talks on the situation which "represents a severe blow for the local economy and the 350 members of staff working at the plant”.

Mr Jones said the announcement has wide-ranging repercussions for the Welsh food and farming industry as a whole and could have a major knock-on effect on the marketing of Welsh produce by Hybu Cig Cymru due to reduced levy payments in Wales.

He urged the Welsh Government to do all it can to help seek an equitable outcome for the sake of the island of Anglesey and the Welsh food and farming industry as a whole.

Mr Jones has called on Asda to reconsider its decision and seeks a meeting with Mr Clarke to discuss the issue which he will also raise at a pre-planned meeting in Cardiff with Mr Davies next Wednesday.

Anglesey beef and sheep farmer Dafydd Roberts, chairman of the FUW's livestock, wool and marts committee, said: “Welsh Country Foods is the only major processing facility for Welsh lamb in North Wales, handling 640,000 lambs per annum, and any loss of processing will therefore be a blow to the local economy and the community in Anglesey.

“Hopefully, discussions with Asda with lead to a change in their decision but if not then it will be imperative to attract new customers to the site. It is important that a negative impact on jobs and the local economy is minimised.”

A recent survey conducted by the Farmers’ Union of Wales revealed a need to increase awareness of the potential impacts of Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD) infection in Welsh cattle herds.

The questionnaire process captured information about thousands of cattle from across Wales and demonstrated that almost half of the farmers surveyed had a farm health plan which included BVD.

“However, more needs to be done to raise awareness of the economic impacts and welfare issues caused by this virus,” said FUW senior policy officer Hazel Wright.

BVD is thought to be widespread in the UK and has now been identified as one of the non-statutory endemic disease priorities for both the dairy and beef cattle sectors in Wales by the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Group (AHWSSG).

At the end of last year, a Wales BVD sub-group, including representatives from Welsh Government, Hybu Cig Cymru, BVA, DairyCo, Gelli Aur College, Menter a Busnes and the FUW, was established to further the work of the AHWSSG and this sub-group met for the first time at the 2012 Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Alongside hosting the inaugural meeting of the BVD sub-group, the FUW issued a BVD questionnaire at the Winter Fair to identify current BVD priority areas in Wales and to better inform the work of the BVD sub-group.

Dr Wright, who also represents the FUW on the AHWSSG, said: “Infection with BVD can cause a number of health problems including reduced conception rates, protracted calving periods, increased abortion rates, stillbirths and deformed and weak calves.

“The economic losses of an uncontrolled BVD outbreak can therefore be substantial.”

BVD infection also leads to a suppression of disease resistance allowing calf pneumonia and diarrhoea problems to be more severe, resulting in greater calf losses.

Dr Wright added: “Infection in the first third of pregnancy is especially concerning because developing calves that survive will remain Persistently Infected (PI) with BVD. PI calves often appear healthy but they will shed the virus throughout their lives and are therefore a major source of spread for this virus.

“Some PI calves will develop mucosal disease and will die before they reach maturity. However, significant numbers of PI calves survive well into adulthood.”

Risk factors include the purchase of infected stock, contact with neighbours’ cattle across fences and contact at markets or shows.

“Engaging in testing programmes to monitor the level of BVD in the herd and control programmes to lessen the impact of any outbreak are essential. It is vital that farmers discuss this disease with their vet in order to address any potential risks as part of their herd health plan,” said Dr Wright.