[caption id="attachment_3561" align="aligncenter" width="300"] FUW Insurance area officer Dylan Evans ,right, clinches the sponsorship deal with Fferm Ffactor winner Malcolm Davies[/caption]

Welsh insurance broker FUW Insurance has decided to sponsor S4C TV agricultural programme “Fferm Ffactor” winner Malcolm Davies from the Llyn Peninsula.

Mr Davies's prize for winning the title was an Isuzu Rodeo Denver 4x4 and FUW Insurance will provide free insurance for the vehicle for one year.

FUW Insurance West Caernarfonshire area officer Dylan Evans said: "We are pleased to be associated with Malcolm's wonderful achievement in winning the Fferm Ffactor title.

"Sponsoring the insurance on his new vehicle gives us the chance to show that we can offer competitive insurance rates for all rural-based businesses.

"FUW Insurance is supported by a panel of specialist agriculture and commercial insurance companies and our field force of 30 area officers and two regional managers work closely with farmers to make sure they have the cover needed to protect their businesses.

"Our staff understand the needs of the rural community and will be there when needed to give all our rural business customers a professional, locally-based service."

Malcolm, a 38-year-old dairy farmer, of Dinas, near Pwllheli, beat off the challenges of Aled Roberts, of Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, and Sam Carey of Rhoshill, Pembrokeshire, in what was dubbed the closest final in the history of the Fferm Ffactor series.

He said his prize of a new pick-up was a dream come true. "The 4.x4 Isuzu Rodeo Denver couldn’t have arrived at a better time as our old pick-up had packed up.”

Farmers' Union of Wales president Emyr Jones today described Welsh Government figures showing that total income from farming rose by over 30 per cent last year as "great news".

Mr Jones said: “Against the backdrop of the very low incomes seen over most of the last decade, it is great news that the rewards for so much hard work, and producing food which is second to none, have grown.

“It should give confidence to the industry as a whole, and particularly our young people, that their passion, skills and hard work can bring rewards.

"It also highlights the importance of having a Government which supports agriculture and recognises the major part agriculture has to play in Wales’ economy in terms of directly supporting the wider community and providing primary produce for the food supply and processing chains.

"The multiplier effect of every pound generated by Welsh agriculture is immense."

But Mr Jones also warned: “As with any industry, there are always concerns about what might be just around the corner, whether in the form of emerging diseases such as the Schmallenberg virus, the Euro exchange rate or the impact of CAP reform.

"There is always room for improvement and more work to be done, but that should not be allowed to overshadow this positive news.”

The Welsh Government statistics revealed total income from farming rose by 31 per cent to £209.5 million in 2011. They also show the value of agricultural output produced in Wales in 2011 was approximately £1,393 million, an increase of 12 per cent on 2010, which generated a 25 per cent increase in Gross Value Added (GVA) from agriculture.

The rises are attributed to greater output and higher market prices as well as the effect of the exchange rate on the value of Single Payment Scheme (SPS) payments to farmers.

[caption id="attachment_3556" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Yves Madre - left - welcomes Glyn Roberts to the EU Commission offices in Brussels.[/caption]

Farmers' Union of Wales deputy president Glyn Roberts has attended a meeting with two cabinet members of EC agriculture and rural development commissioner Dacian Ciolo?' for Common Agricultural Policy reform talks during a recent visit to Brussels.

At the meeting, Mr Roberts, of Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws y Coed, underlined the union's concerns over a number of issues - including the need for a realistic transition period and the union's own model for entitlements, greening and new entrants - with Yves Madre and Welshman Gwilym Jones.

"It was a very positive meeting where a range of detailed issues were debated. The Commission are currently in 'listening' mode on the CAP reform proposals and we used the opportunity to highlight the need for flexibility within the regulations to minimise the impacts the reforms will have on farmers in Wales," said Mr Roberts.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed an official assurance that the Welsh Government's farm liaison officers can continue to attend evening meetings with farmers and that any changes to the service will be in addition to, and not instead of, present arrangements.

The union's concern that liaison officers were not allowed to work in the evenings were raised with deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies by North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd during a recent Senedd debate on regulation in the agricultural industry.

"Due to farmers' working practices evening meetings provide the best opportunity for liaison officers to get their message across to the industry," said FUW president Emyr Jones.

"But when these officers, who provide such a vital service to the industry, are stopped from attending it causes practical problems for farmers wishing to obtain their advice."

Responding to Mr Gruffydd's enquiry, Mr Davies said senior officials within his department had not given instructions that staff in the Farm Liaison Service (FLS) must not conduct evening meetings.

"The service recognises that the working practices of farmers in Wales, the farming unions and agents are such that for many evening meetings provide the most convenient solution.

"It is fair to say that the FLS has not been able over recent months to undertake quite as many evening meetings as it has in the past due to competing priorities - most notably in respect of the comprehensive support arrangements the Welsh Government has put in place for farmers considering joining Glastir."

On future FLS plans, Mr Davies said Gareth Williams' recently-published Working Smarter report on red tape in the industry concluded the FLS provides an excellent service and the team should be significantly increased in size.

"I will be looking at new and different ways of delivering this excellent service in the future and will make a statement on any changes that I make. However, I would like to confirm that any enhancements to the service will be in addition to, and not instead of, present arrangements."

Mr Jones said: "The FUW welcomes Mr Davies' response on this issue and the commitment to maintaining and enhancing the Farm Liaison Service in the future."