Around 30 Farmers' Union of Wales officers and staff members plus friends will be up before dawn tomorrow (Thursday June 14) to climb Wales' three highest mountains to raise funds for union president Emyr Jones' charity Cancer Research Wales.

Even before they begin their arduous 15-hour challenge they have raised more than £15,000 including donations from FUW Insurance providers Farm Web, NIG and BIBU.

The climbers from all parts of Wales - including 26-year-old Welsh women's rugby international Elen Evans of Dinas Mawddwy - will assemble at the Bryn Tyrch Bunk Barn in Capel Curig this evening before starting their 3 Peaks Challenge by climbing Snowdon at first light.

Armed with an energy-boosting flapjack made by Llanrwst-based FUW area office assistant Gwyn Jones's wife Mari, their ascent of Snowdon (3,560 ft above sea level) via the Pyg track will take around two hours.

So with a good wind and kind weather all the walkers should be back down again by 8.30am where bacon and egg butties, arranged by FUW Caernarfonshire county executive officer Gwynedd Watkin, will be waiting!

They will then travel to Cadair Idris (2,820 ft), near Dolgellau, taking the Pony Path and - buoyed by locally-bottled Cerist spring water from Dinas Mawddwy - they should also scale the mountain in about two hours.

Following refreshments provided by Elen's parents, staunch FUW Meirionnydd members Aled and Catherine Evans, and Dolgellau-based FUW area officer Bethan Roberts, the group will head for Pen y Fan (2,907ft) in the Brecon Beacons by mid-afternoon to start their final climb at around 6pm.

After completing the arduous challenge by around 9pm, they will recover with a welcoming barbecue, organised by Abergavenny-based FUW area officer Gwen Evans. 

One climber, FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones, said: "This fund-raising challenge is a rare opportunity for us to look beyond the agricultural world and recognise the further demands of society as a whole."

Aberystwyth-based FUW press officer Anne Birkett has already blazed a trail for fellow staff members by completing the 3 Peaks Challenge and raising over £400 for Emyr Jones' charity fund.

"I was really proud to stand on the summit of Pen y Fan after my third and final ascent. The views were truly breathtaking.

"As it was a clear evening we could see from the Black Mountains to the Preseli Hills, from Exmoor to Plynlimon and the sea beyond Mumbles.

"We also got a great view of Pontsticill reservoir which lies just above Merthyr Tydfil and the South Wales valleys beyond."

[caption id="attachment_3674" align="aligncenter" width="550"] From left, John Comer, Pat McCormack, Dei Davies, Hazel Wright, Eifion Huws and Emyr Jones.[/caption]

Welsh and Irish dairy farmers' representatives have expressed fears that one of the key issues affecting milk producers is the reform of the CAP and that the current CAP proposals could have a significant impact on the viability of the sector.

The concerns were discussed during a joint meeting in Dublin of leading Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) and Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) officials.

The FUW was represented by its president Emyr Jones, of Bala; chairman of its milk and dairy produce committee Dei (correct spelling) Davies, of Holywell; dairy spokesman Eifion Huws, of Holyhead; and senior policy officer Hazel Wright; and ICMSA by its president John Comer and deputy president Pat McCormack.

After the meeting, Mr Davies said: "Both organisations expressed concern about the current greening measures as proposed in the CAP review and the placement of agri-schemes and activities under Pillar 1.

"ICMSA also agree with us that greening measures should remain under Pillar 2, unless they have some real benefit to the producer, and that the current proposals could severely undermine food production at a time when current and future food security is a major concern across the globe.

"We also discussed current proposals to establish upper and lower limits of change to area-based payments under the new CAP to help reduce financial disruption for farm businesses."

Mr Davies said the Irish and Welsh dairy sectors have a range of similarities. "Some 75 per cent of Irish producers produce less than 750,000 litres and only seven per cent of Irish farmers are under the age of 35.

"Like the FUW, the ICMSA are committed to protecting family farms and it is clear that consumers also want their milk to be produced on traditional family farms."

[caption id="attachment_3671" align="aligncenter" width="600"] FUW vice president Brian Walters and his wife Anne (front centre) hosted the road show at their Carmarthenshire dairy farm to raise awareness of Johne’s disease and discuss recent developments in the dairy industry[/caption]

A road show was hosted by Farmers’ Union of Wales vice president Brian Walters at his Carmarthenshire dairy farm to raise awareness of Johne’s disease and discuss recent developments in the dairy industry.

Over 100 farmers attended the event at Esgairhir Uchaf, near Carmarthen, where they received an update on the dairy industry by First Milk chairman Bill Mustoe and had the opportunity to speak to Julie Forrest, a lecturer at Edinburgh University’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, about Johne’s disease.

“There is an imbalance in the dairy market with demand being two per cent and supply going at three per cent, which causes world market prices to fall,” said Mr Mustoe.

“In order to deal with the imbalance in the liquid market we have over the last year taken a number of steps to create an added value food business. Our acquisition of CNP Professional last month is a prime example and demonstrates the direction we are going.

“The sports nutrition market has more than doubled in the last five years, with this strong growth predicted to be maintained over the next five years.

“The First Milk you see before you is not only better shaped to drive members returns, but equally important, is well positioned to further develop your business,” added Mr Mustoe.

Esgairhir Uchaf farm is run by Mr Walters, his wife Anne and their two sons Simon and Aled. Together with their home farm Clunmelyn, the farms stand at 400 acres with an additional 100 acres rented. Clunmelyn farm is used to rear the young stock and heifers with the milking being carried out at Esgairhir Uchaf.

The Walters family now farm 210 Friesian and Holstein cattle, all of which are autumn calving. They aim to produce as much milk from grass and focus on making good quality silage. The farm makes all its own silage and the family try to do as much of the field and machinery work as they can.

"First Milk has moved away from being a broker of milk to being a substantial processor in the UK market and can therefore return profits to its members,” said Mr Walters.

“It is also good to see that they are now also processing around 50 per cent of members milk. There is a huge opportunity for farmers in the dairy industry. With innovation and creativity we can ensure that the imbalance in market prices can be addressed.

“We may not be able to generate adequate profit from the general commodity market but with new investments into for example sports nutrition we can try and re-establish balance.

“We are already supplying Team GB with nutritional supplements in their training and for the Olympics and it is great to see that the sports nutrition market is now also being targeted at a less professional level.

“It is vital that we keep business in the UK and support our dairy industry. In that respect it was important that we addressed issues such as Johne’s disease in dairy herds here at the road show.

“Clinical signs of Johne's disease are not specific to Johne's and include rapid weight loss and diarrhoea which can lead to cattle being culled for other reasons such as infertility or lameness.

“One thing is certain, if there is an underlying Johne’s problem in your herd, it will reduce the life time productivity and health of your herd ,” added Mr Walters.

“It was a fantastic event and excellent to see so many farmers attending. The Walters family have done a great job in hosting this event and are an excellent example of a progressive family dairy farm,” said FUW president Emyr Jones.

[caption id="attachment_3668" align="aligncenter" width="513"] Top, from left, Aled Jones, Emyr Jones, Keith Davies and David Miles. Bottom, New FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Catherine Nakielny is flanked by her vice chairman Brian Richards, left, and outgoing chairman Ian Rickman.[/caption]

The Welsh Government's decision to vaccinate rather than cull badgers led to a lively debate during the annual general meeting of Farmers' Union of Wales' Carmarthenshire branch.

A panel of speakers including FUW president Emyr Jones, Llanelli's Labour AM Keith Davies, National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and Wales YFC senior member of the year Aled Jones and Proper Welsh Milk director David Miles were asked if the Badger Protection Act was used more as a "Politician Protection Act".

"The question created a heated lively debate with Mr Davies given a rough time," said FUW's Carmarthenshire county executive officer Meinir Bartlett.

"Members unanimously believed that the Government had taken the safer, softer option by giving in to the Badger Trust rather than listening to scientific reports and results.

"Those present believed that farmers should use the same tactics as the Badger Trust and show photographs and clippings of cattle being slaughtered and the dramatic effect it has on family farms."

The panel was also asked if the creation next April of a new single body following the merger of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales was a "recipe for cooperation and streamlining of regulations, or a recipe for disaster".

"There was unanimous concern on how successful the amalgamated body would be," said Mrs Bartlett.

"It was believed that it was a cost cutting exercise which had been rushed though. Often the aims and ideals of the Countryside Council for Wales do not match with those of the other two bodies."

Panel members were asked if the lack of enthusiasm by the UK Government for larger farmer cooperatives accounted for the apparent lack of interest of farmers towards coops and whether they endorsed the proposed merger of Arla Foods and Milk Link.

"The panel believed the merger of Arla Foods and Milk Link was excellent news and could be complimentary to the dairy sector. It was believed that a large cooperative should have the strength and knowledge to deal with supermarkets.

"Members also expressed concern that the Government could decide that the merger would create too large a cooperative and believed it vital that any profit made should be returned to producers."

Much discussion took place in response to the question: How much authority would you give to the proposed supermarket ombudsman?

Mrs Bartlett added: "Other sectors are overseen by Ofcom/Oftel who ensure customers are treated fairly and they check profit margins.

"It was suggested that the same power should be available to a supermarket ombudsman, who should be robust and able to govern marketing techniques etc.

"Concern was expressed that it could have little effect on the dairy industry, as it is the 'middleman' who makes the profit."

A full-blown debate took place in response to the question: Is sufficient assistance being given to encourage young people to enter and remain in the farming industry?

"It was suggested that the current Young New Entrant Scheme provided insufficient encouragement and assistance," said Mrs Bartlett. "The balance payment or funding expected from an individual is out of reach for many.

"Also, selling off council farms was certainly not the way forward. It was believed that the availability of land and the cost of land is a major obstacle and, therefore, share farming should be encouraged with more assistance and advice given on succession in farming.

"It was further suggested by some members that decoupling of payment had not been beneficial to farmers."