Deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies' "Stocktake" of the much-criticised Glastir agri-environment scheme was described as a step in the right direction by the Farmers' Union of Wales today.

"While we would have liked him to have gone further on some other aspects of the scheme, we welcome the focus improving communications at all levels of the scheme," said FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams.

"It is a step in the right direction and we look forward to working with Welsh Government to get the right messages across to farmers, bearing in mind that communication and engagement is a two-way process."

Delivering his "Stocktake Report" in the Senedd earlier, Mr Davies accepted previous criticism of a lack of communication in delivering details of the scheme.

But he said he is determined to make Glastir more accessible by changing the various terms used to describe the different elements of the scheme.

Stressing the current payment rates were fair to both farmers and taxpayers, he acknowledged the rates would be reviewed periodically but an annual review would be "costly and cumbersome and probably not in the best interests of the scheme".

Mr Williams said: "Apart from this major communications plan, there are very few proposed changes to the scheme and most of those will be introduced under the next Rural Development Plan anyway.

"However, it is hoped, when the  changes introduced following the Rees Roberts review have had the opportunity to bed in properly, farmers will revisit the scheme and make informed decisions on whether it is for them or not.

"Glastir will ultimately be judged by its uptake," added Mr Williams.

[caption id="attachment_3826" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Dei Davies[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales today described Robert Wiseman Dairies' decision to once again slash its farm-gate milk price as an utter disgrace and a devastating blow to the industry.

"This decision will have a devastating effect on dairy producers and family run dairy farms in particular will be feeling the hit," said FUW milk and dairy produce committee chairman Dei (CORRECT) Davies, of Holywell, Flintshire.

"The announcement of a 1.7ppl drop by Wisemans following the reported 2ppl drop by Wisemans, Dairy Crest and other suppliers in April this year blatantly shows that current dairy contracts are far from working and that processors are not being held accountable," added Mr Davies.

"From August this year, Wiseman Dairies will only be paying a standard litre price of 24.73ppl, which is around 5ppl below the cost of production."

Wiseman have blamed the price cut on a collapse in the value of cream. However, failings in the dairy supply chain mean that such lower market returns are mainly being felt by the producer.

The delay in passing higher market returns back to the producer only serves to further disadvantage milk producers and has led to an unsustainable situation, Mr Davies stressed.

"Large retailers continue to use milk as a 'loss leader' and this has led to farm-gate prices which are less than the cost of production.  Farmers are in an intolerable position.  There isn't enough profit for livelihood, let alone for investment.

"We are going back to a downward spiral of farm-gate milk prices and the industry needs to look at the issue of milk contracts more seriously.

"Why should our dairy farmers have to carry the burden of falling milk prices again and again? These companies are playing Russian roulette with our dairy industry and if this carries on there won't be a dairy industry for much longer.

"Dairy producers are being put into an impossible situation. It is about time that the Government intervenes as a matter of urgency to ensure that we have a dairy industry in the future," added Mr Davies.

Resistance to antiparasitic drugs, such as those used to combat sheep scab and liver fluke, was described as a major problem by a veterinary sheep scientist at a recent Farmers’ Union of Wales animal health and welfare committee meeting.

During discussions, former president of the Sheep Veterinary Society and of the South Wales division of the British Veterinary Association Kate Hovers, from Trecastle, Brecon, told delegates many parasites are now becoming resistant to treatment partly due to medicines being inadvertently used inappropriately.

A misdiagnosis of the cause of ill-health also often leads to the animal not being treated correctly, Ms Hovers said. This makes it vitally important that farmers have an effective parasite control plan in place, preferably agreed in conjunction with a veterinary surgeon.

“We know anthelmintic resistance is present and common in some parasites, and most will have some resistance to the BZ (white) drenches,” she said.

“Every time such a drench is used the proportion of resistant worms on the grazing and in the flock increase until eventually it affects production and becomes noticeable in your cash flow.”

The committee heard that the overuse of products will always speed up the time to resistance, especially for worm drenches, ectoparasite treatments and antibiotics and that this is very important when treating, for example, sheep scab.

Ms Hovers said farmers need to be aware that every time an injectable is used for scab control it also worms the sheep.

“Overuse will cause resistance to these products over time, and while that may not be evident in many flocks now, it will likely affect the next generation, leading to problems fattening lambs,” she added.

FUW animal health and welfare committee chairman Catherine Nakienly said: “There are many reasons for the apparent lack of effectiveness of a treatment so advice should be sought both on a routine plan and on monitoring the products used for effectiveness and possible resistance problems.

“We need to raise awareness in the industry that many parasites in sheep are now becoming resistant to some of the products used and that treatments should be appropriate and only carried out when needed.

“There are so many benefits to the effective control of parasites and we would urge farmers to discuss a plan with their veterinarian,” added Dr Nakienly.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today issued a warning to farmers to beware of persistent telephone calls urging them to give details of their bank accounts to make advance payments for advertising space in magazines or newspapers to be published at a later date.

"We have received a number of complaints from FUW members in recent weeks of unsolicited telephone calls - in one case 11 calls from the same source - requesting payment card details for placing an advertisement," said an FUW spokesman today.

"Anyone receiving such calls should not give any personal information such as their name, address, bank details, email or phone number to organisations or people before verifying their credentials.

"You should at all times be extremely wary of phone calls, post or emails offering business deals out of the blue. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always question it.

"If you suspect you are a victim of such tactics call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to discuss your situation with one of their specialist advisers."