Welsh Assembly environment and sustainability committee chairman Dafydd Elis Thomas will be one of the speakers at the annual general meeting of the Farmers' Union of Wales Caernarfonshire county branch at Nanhoron Hotel, Nefyn, this Friday (November 9) at 7.30pm.

The other speakers are Euryn Jones, regional agriculture manager for Wales of HSBC Bank who are sponsoring the meeting, and FUW director of agricultural policy Dr Nick Fenwick.

FUW county executive officer Gwynedd Watkin said: "The evening will be an excellent opportunity for members to listen to the views of the guest speakers on the future of the industry, with the main emphasis on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy."

[caption id="attachment_3772" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Dilwyn and Geraint, right, Jenkins in the milking parlour at Cerrigcaranau, Talybont, near Aberystwyth.[/caption]

Welsh Affairs Select Committee members carrying out an inquiry into the future of dairy farming in Wales will get  first-hand experience of life on a Farmers' Union of Wales member's farm near Aberystwyth tomorrow (Thursday November 8 at 11.15am).

Before taking part in an evidence session at Aberystwyth University's MedRus Conference Centre, committee members will pay a 45-minute visit to 510-acre Cerrigcaranau Farm at nearby Talybont to hear the views of farmer Dilwyn Jenkins and his sons Eifion (29) and Geraint (25).

The farm is run, with a mixture of enterprises under organic management, in three blocks with 110 Holstein Friesian cows milked, 30 pedigree Welsh Black cows, 230 breeding ewes, 80 acres of barley, five acres of fodder beet and two acres of swedes.

After the farm visit (at 2.15pm) FUW senior policy officer Hazel Wright and chairman of the union's milk and dairy produce committee, Holywell dairy farmer Dei (Correct spelling) Davies, will present evidence to the committee revealing that low and volatile dairy farm profitability has eroded confidence in the sector.

The union will enforce the message that if the current problems are not tackled, the Welsh dairy industry will face an uncertain future and a continued reduction in the number of dairy producers.

The FUW has already provided written evidence to the committee which states that Wales has about 1,900 dairy farmers - about 20% of the total amount in England and Wales - yet the number of farmers has declined steadily since the end of the last century.

Compared to 2002 there are now 40% fewer dairy farmers in Wales and last summer the industry suffered a major crisis caused by price cuts announced by retailers and processors. Although some price cuts were later withdrawn, the long-term sustainability of the industry remains uncertain.

"We relish the opportunity to discuss the short and long-term challenges facing the Welsh dairy sector with members of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee," said Mr Davies.

"In our written evidence we have discussed the benefits of retaining traditional family farms by redressing imbalances of power along the supply chain, ensuring fair contractual arrangements and encouraging better co-operation between farmers.

"With this in mind, the impact of the EU Dairy Package, the UK Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill and the voluntary Dairy Code of Practice on contractual relations will be some of the key elements under discussion," added Mr Davies.

The union's written evidence also discusses the potential effect of the abolition of milk quotas and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on the Welsh dairy sector.

THE line-up of speakers has been revealed for the Farmers' Union of Wales autumn conference at Aberystwyth Art Centre on Thursday November 15 on the theme "Future harvests: sowing the seeds for the next decade".

They will include former director of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences in Aberystwyth and former acting chief scientist for Wales Professor Chris Pollock who will speak about bridging the gap between science and policy.

UK Independence Party MEP for East England and Norfolk farmer Stuart Agnew will deliver an address on the changing role of rural development in terms of agriculture and farm business consultants Andersons Northern (England) Ltd director James Severn will give a presentation on strengthening the power of farmers within the supply chain.

Also, Duncan Montgomery, a representative from independent accountancy practice Whittingham Riddell, will speak on circumventing barriers to succession and young entrants.

[caption id="attachment_4150" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Jade Jones sporting the iconic milk tash[/caption]

OLYMPIC gold medalist, taekwondo athlete Jade Jones, will use milk for a celebratory toast when she officially opens the Farmers' Union of Wales new offices in Mold at 4pm on Monday (November 5).

A local girl from Flint, Jade is one of the latest personalities to front the UK nationwide "make mine Milk" campaign. She said: "Milk is a really important part of my diet and I'm looking forward to toasting the long-term success of the FUW's new premises.

"At the London Olympics I had to be in the best shape of my life and having milk every day played a part in that. You don't need to be an athlete to enjoy the benefits of milk though - it's low in fat, healthy, tasty and has its place in everyone's diet."

The FUW's new offices at 23A Chester Street is larger than the two-room premises in the same street the union previously used for nearly 30 years. Refreshments to be served during the opening ceremony will include milk-based drinks.

FUW Flint county chairman Clwyd Spencer said: "The new offices have ample space for FUW Insurance Services plus the county office requirements and will be equally convenient for the town's auction mart.

"They are much more fit for purpose and, being on street level, are easier to access and, hopefully, more prominent for passing trade. They will include an office for the county executive officer and a room spacious enough for our usual county meetings."

The new offices will be open five days a week and manned by three staff - office administrator Sarah Ross and area officers Elwyn Davies and Natasha Lewis.

"It means there will always be someone there to meet and advise members of their various insurance requirements and all the other members' services the union can offer," Mr Spencer added.