The Farmers’ Union of Wales has slammed a decision by the Welsh Government to ignore a key recommendation of the “Working Smarter” report, despite having commissioned the report and accepted the recommendation just months ago.

In an announcement today (Tuesday June 26) the Welsh Government revealed that farming unions had been excluded from a group set up to look at ways in which the Rural Development Plan (RDP) can be used to strengthen rural businesses and Welsh farming.

Yet in February this year, deputy agriculture minister Alun Davies accepted a recommendation in the Gareth Williams “Working Smarter” report that Task and Finish groups should be established and that “both farming unions should be onboard”.

FUW’s land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “In his report, Gareth Williams acknowledged the expertise and experience of the FUW and highlighted the importance of involving us in any such discussions.

“Yet, in response to a question at the FUW’s AGM, the deputy minister told members that he had used his ‘ministerial discretional rights’ to exclude the FUW.”

Mr Williams said that the decision had angered farmers from across Wales.

“We have heard the deputy minister speaking again and again about wanting to work with the farming industry, and the importance of such cooperation was an emphasis in our president’s speech at the AGM.

“This decision goes completely against that principle and is anything but Working Smarter.

“The decision to exclude the expertise of the FUW is extremely short-sighted as our staff and officials have decades of experience in dealing with the complexities of successive Rural Development Plans and ensuring maximum delivery.”

Mr Williams said that the value of the FUW’s experience had been demonstrated again and again and decisions by previous administrations to ignore FUW advice had led to numerous problems and plans later having to be changed in line with the union’s views.

“The decision to exclude those stakeholders who are most affected by the Rural Development Plan beggars belief and makes Mr Davies’ claims of wanting to work with the farming industry appear hollow,” added Mr Williams.

[caption id="attachment_3683" align="aligncenter" width="550"] FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts presents the union’s annual internal and external awards to Eifion Huws and Ffermio team members.[/caption]

Prick his finger and milk will flow out, was how Anglesey dairy farmer Eifion Huws was described when nominated for the Farmers' Union of Wales annual internal award recognising services to the union and the agricultural industry in Wales.

Mr Huws runs a 140-head pedigree Ayrshire herd at Penrhos, Bodedern and was presented with his award during the FUW's annual general meeting in Aberystwyth today (Friday June 22).

The dairy herd has an outstanding production and show record and Mr Huws is a long established and highly respected Ayrshire cattle judge.

He has been an active member of the FUW’s central finance and organisation committee for the past six years and has also been chairman of the union’s milk and dairy produce committee.

He travels the length and breadth of the country, and to Europe, representing the dairy industry in the hope of acquiring better conditions and prices for farmers.

Over the years, he has become well known in the media for his outspoken views on matters concerning the dairy industry and, recently, on the collapse of Dairy Farmers of Britain, of which he was a member.

His other interests include the local YFC at Bodedern of which he has held most posts including president and club leader.

He is particularly concerned about the future of Wales’ young people and their struggle to obtain employment, housing, and capital to farm in their local areas and practices what he preaches by encouraging his son Iwan, a partner in the family business, to stay at home to farm.

Eifion has represented his local branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales for many years and has been chairman of the Ynys Môn committee of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution for the past 11 years.

“His wealth of knowledge within the industry is second to none and his renowned ability to support his fellow farmers is priceless," said Dei Davies, current chairman of FUW's milk and dairy produce committee.

[caption id="attachment_3810" align="aligncenter" width="500"] FUW president Emyr Jones - left - and guest speaker Deputy Agriculture Minister Alun Davies taken during last Friday’s FUW AGM in Aberystwyth.[/caption]

The Farmers' Union of Wales and the Welsh Government should work together for the good of the industry was the key message spelled out by the union's leader today (Friday June 22).

Among the issues raised by Bala farmer Emyr Jones during FUW's annual general meeting was the Welsh Government’s CAP Reform position statement in response to the "most important debate" for the farming industry.

Mr Jones, whose speech was followed by an address and question and answer session by Deputy Agriculture Minister Alun Davies, also referred to the need for an LFA support scheme, the U-turn over a badger cull in north Pembrokeshire, Gareth Williams’ Working Smarter report and the Glastir agri-environment scheme.

[caption id="attachment_3683" align="aligncenter" width="550"] FUW deputy president Glyn Roberts presents the union’s annual internal and external awards to Eifion Huws and Ffermio team members.[/caption]

The production team of a popular Welsh-language television programme about farming and rural life was today (Friday June 22) awarded the Farmers' Union of Wales annual external award for services to the agricultural industry in Wales.

The team behind S4C's Ffermio programme and website received the award during the union's annual general meeting in Aberystwyth.

Telesgop, now based in Swansea, has produced Ffermio since 1996 after Richard Rees and Elin Rhys first met S4C in a bid to win the contract.  He previously worked on agricultural programmes with the BBC and they had a strong team of presenters to support their bid - Sulwyn Thomas, Gerallt Pennant and Rachael Garside.

As a company they have fond memories of the moment Siân Ann Davies received a fax from S4C informing them that the bid had been successful!

At the time, the office was located in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, but as time went on Telesgop grew into a company with considerable expertise in agricultural and rural matters.

As well as Richard, a number of producers/directors have consistently worked on the series, including Dyfrig Davies, as producer and senior producer, Sioned McCue, Mererid Wigley, Lynne Thomas Morgan, Terwyn Davies, Arwyn Williams and Huw Williams.

By now, Gwawr Lewis and Meinir Jones have become producers after spending a number of years as researchers. Young researcher Elin Mair Rees recently joined the team.

Following filming, the pictures are edited in Swansea. Trystan Rowlands and Dai Rees have been with the company since the start and, more recently, Geraint Reynolds has completed the editing team.

Siân Thomas, Siân Ann Davies, Sarah Hendre and Keith Evans also work behind the scenes dealing with the administration and the whole team’s commitment to rural life is responsible for ensuring the high standard of the series.

By 2005, there had been a number of changes to the programme. New presenters were introduced - Daloni Metcalfe, Alun Elidir and Iola Wyn. Mererid Wigley presented the bulletin and the company moved from Llandeilo to Swansea Bay.

Meinir Jones is now one of the presenters, having a strong agricultural background. There’s an annual chance to enter a competition to win trailers, donated by Ifor Williams, of Corwen, and the competition is increasing in popularity year on year.

"The majority of the workforce come from an agricultural background and live amongst the audience in the countryside," said FUW president Emyr Jones.

"S4C has to be congratulated for providing a service such as Ffermio and for its acknowledgement of the industry's importance to Wales."

Elin Rhys said: "2001 was a poignant and difficult year for the industry due to Foot and Mouth disease and Ffermio operated as a special service for Welsh farmers with two live programmes broadcast every week.

"It was not possible to film on farms due to the restrictions so the programmes were broadcast live from studios in Cardiff with the staff operating a helpline every night after each broadcast.

"This was a period when staff realised how close the relationship is with our audience and how dependant the industry is on help, advice and sympathy during difficult and sad times.

"Over the years, a precious relationship developed with farmers, food producers, unions, and rural organisations and the team has immense respect for the agricultural community. That respect ensures the team always give their best back to the audience.

"Telesgop embraces digital technology and the service of www.ffermio.tv has been available for a number of years to provide extra information to our audience.

"Richard and the whole team are very grateful to FUW for this credit to Ffermio, and Telesgop, and we are proud that we can contribute to an industry that is so crucial to our economy, language and culture."