[caption id="attachment_4099" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Eifion Huws ,second from left, with the award judges,from left, HSBC Bank agriculture manager Sarah Williams, FUW senior policy officer Hazel Wright and Welsh Dairy Show chairman Lynn Davies[/caption]

Well-known Anglesey dairy farmer Eifion Huws has been selected as this year's winner of the Farmers' Union of Wales/HSBC Bank award to the person who has made an outstanding contribution to the Welsh dairy industry.

According to the judges - HSBC agriculture manager Sarah Williams, Welsh Dairy Show chairman Lynn Davies and FUW senior policy officer Hazel Wright - this year's nominations were of an "extremely high standard with several worthy of winning the award".

Mr Huws, of Rhoslyn, Bodedern, was singled out because his "energy, enthusiasm and passion for the dairy industry" knows no bounds. Indeed, it has been stated that if you pricked his finger, milk would flow out.

Some of the roles carried out by Mr Huws on behalf of the Welsh dairy industry over a number of years include:

• Representing the FUW on the national Dairy UK farmers forum.

• Chairing the FUW milk and dairy produce committee from 2004 until 2011.

• Key instigator in ensuring FUW is represented within the on-going development of the national Producer Organisation initiative to strengthen the position of the milk producer along the supply chain.

• Representing Welsh dairy issues nationally and internationally including the recent face-to-face discussions FUW has had with milk processors and representation in Brussels.

Last June Mr Huws was awarded the 2011/2012 FUW internal award for services to the union and the agricultural industry in Wales.

The FUW/HSBC award was due to be officially presented to him today (Tuesday October 16) in the main ring of the Welsh Dairy Show by deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed deputy minister Alun Davies' personal assurance that the Welsh Government will continue to explore all options to ensure the functions of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) are maintained in Wales.

Mr Davies delivered his promise during a National Assembly debate - called by Pontypridd Labour Co-op AM Mick Antoniw - on the future of the AWB for England and Wales. The Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly have already decided to retain the board in their regions.

During the debate Mr Antoniw referred to a joint press conference and briefing he had just attended with the FUW's agricultural education and training committee chairman Alun Edwards and policy officer Andrew Gurney plus representatives of the UNITE trade union who all expressed their strong opposition to the long-threatened abolition of the AWB.

"The FUW spoke very strongly in support of the board’s retention,” said Mr Antoniw. “It says that the majority of its members still consider the Agricultural Wages Board to be the most effective body to determine pay and conditions of service that reflect the unique requirements of the agricultural industry in Wales.

"The FUW went on to say that because many farms in Wales are run with relatively few staff, the AWB is considered to be an important means of avoiding potential conflict and lengthy negotiations with individual staff.

“Therefore, is it not ironic that the UK Government wants to abolish the AWB in the name of deregulation, but will actually increase the burden on many farmers?

"I believe that it is possible to retain a wages board or the functions of the AWB in some form in Wales at minimal cost. Let us not forget that the cost last year of running the entire Agriculture Wages Board in England and Wales was £57,000.

"In Northern Ireland, it was £30,000. It also provides a very considerable benefit to farm workers, farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.

"Therefore, we have an opportunity in Wales to do something different, not for the sake of difference but because, as I strongly believe, it is the right thing to do in Wales for the agricultural sector and for agricultural workers themselves."

Summing up the debate, Mr Davies revealed he will be taking up the issue in talks next week with the new Defra minister. "I am hopeful that we will be able to find a workable and agreeable solution that will ensure that the working conditions of agricultural workers in Wales will remain protected.

"I am to meet David Heath, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, on 15 October, and the AWB will be a key agenda item. This will be the sixth UK Minister that I have met in the past 18 months to discuss this issue.

"It is clear that the UK Government does not have a clear idea of where it is going or what it wants to achieve. I would appeal to the current Ministers and their departments to work together with the Welsh Government to ensure that we have a positive outcome on this matter.

"Even if our continued negotiations with the UK Government fail to result in an amicable agreement, I want to make it absolutely clear this afternoon that the Welsh Government will continue to explore all available options to ensure that the functions of the Agricultural Wages Board are maintained in Wales."

Mr Edwards said today: “The FUW has always supported the AWB and remains concerned that unless there are systems in place to protect payments to agricultural workers, the industry will not attract the highly skilled individuals it needs to thrive.

"We have made regular representations to the Governments in Cardiff and Westminster highlighting that the AWB is still the most effective body to determine the pay and conditions of workers in a way which reflects the unique requirements of the agricultural industry in Wales.

As many farms in Wales run with relatively few staff, the AWB is considered an important means of avoiding potential conflict and lengthy negotiations with individual staff.

"The union strongly believes the AWB’s role in setting minimum rates of pay can reflect the need for agricultural workers to be flexible in their working arrangements to cover busy periods, fine weather, and unsocial hours, not covered by general employment law.

"The economic climate within the agricultural industry has made it a less attractive option for young people and rewarding skills, qualifications and levels of responsibility is a vital means of persuading high calibre people to remain or enter into the industry.

"Reliance on a single national minimum wage will inevitably result in an erosion of talent and skills from farming as more lucrative and physically less challenging professions are taken up.

“The FUW believes there needs to be proper arrangements to deal with enhanced terms and conditions which reflect the dedication of agricultural workers."

[caption id="attachment_4094" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Gwion shows Carwyn Jones how his innovative grid works[/caption]

The son of a Farmers' Union of Wales member has won a national design competition after inventing a portable grid allowing cyclists to enjoy the countryside without dismounting.

Keen cyclist Gwion Jones, 16-year-old son of Ifan and Olwen Jones, who farm at Tymawr, Mallwyd, Meirionnydd, designed the device - which stops sheep escaping between fields - as a substitute for gates around his parents' farm.

It also has great potential for farmers using quad bikes.

He was a pupil at Ysgol y Gader, Dolgellau, when he designed the grid. He is the first GCSE student to beat older A-level competitors to the top prize at the WJEC's Innovation Exhibition and Awards 2012.

First minister Carwyn Jones presented Gwion with the prestigious Innovation Award and GCSE prize of £500 for himself, £300 for his school and the coveted Beckley Cup and Magnox North Trophy.

His portable cycling grid was described as an "excellent piece of work" by WJEC's design and technology specialist Steve Howells.

Gwion, nephew of FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones, is now continuing with his studies at Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Glynllifon, and is hoping to patent his prototype device.

[caption id="attachment_4091" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Eurwyn Roberts[/caption]

A Flintshire farmer who operates a caravan park on his land has been appointed the new chairman of the Farmers' Union of Wales farm diversification committee.

Eurwyn Roberts lives at Gwrachen Farm, Wern Road, Hendre, Mold, with his wife Janet, sons Delwyn (21) and Ianto (16), and daughter Sioned (13) and runs a 150-acre arable and beef unit at Maes Elwy, Trefnant, St Asaph, where four acres are devoted to a static site for 15 caravans.

He grows 60 acres of barley to feed and house store cattle, mainly Friesian bullocks. "I used to milk 150 Friesians and call them into the milking parlour with a 'Come on girls' command. Now I say 'Come on boys' - and I don't have to get up early to milk them!" he said.

Delwyn works part-time on the farm and as a builder for a local fireplace installation company. "I also help my brother Dylan on his farm at Fron, Hendre, where he has a touring caravan site," said Eurwyn.

"I believe farm diversification is crucial for us as a family and for the whole area. It's surprising how many holidaymakers who use our caravan sites also shop locally and pop into the local pub for a meal. They are very important to the survival of the local economy."

Mr Roberts succeeds Deilwen Breese, of Gogarth, Pennal, near Machynlleth, who has been the committee's chairman for over a decade.