[caption id="attachment_3637" align="aligncenter" width="500"] DON'T TAKE THE COW OUT OF COWBRIDGE: From left, FUW administrative assistant Christine Anstee, county chairman Glyn Jones and area officer Nia Jones.[/caption]

Farmers' Union of Wales members in Glamorganshire have adopted the slogan "Don't take the Cow out of Cowbridge" in their bid to save their local cattle mart.

They revealed the slogan when they marched through the streets of the Vale of Glamorgan town to protest against the proposed closure of the mart.

"The closure of Cowbridge mart would remove a vital lifeline from the town and also make it necessary for farmers to travel far greater distances to sell their stock," said FUW county executive officer Glyn Davies.

"The market deals on average with over 1,000 lambs a week during the summer and autumn period, which makes it clear that the market is vital for local farmers. It is crucial the existing market is kept open as there are no proposed alternative sites," added Mr Davies.

The protest was the biggest demonstration the town has seen in recent years as traders and residents combined in an attempt to save the cattle market.

Local farmers used tractors at the front and rear of the march to protect the walkers as they chanted: "Keep Cowbridge Special - Save our Cattle Market!"

The campaign also has the support of Cowbridge Chamber of Trade, Cowbridge Residents' Group, Cowbridge with Llanblethian Town Council, the Vale Marketing Group, Cowbridge Charter Trust, Vale MP Alun Cairns, Vale AM Jane Hutt and regional AM Andrew R T Davies.

The Vale Council has resolved to sell the cattle market for housing and has invited companies to submit bids for an extra care housing complex that would cater for the needs of the elderly.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales today branded the Welsh Government’s decision to vaccinate rather than cull badgers as financial negligence after it was revealed the policy would lead to a net loss for the taxpayer of around £3.5 million.

According to the evidence provided to Environment and Sustainability Minister John Griffiths by his own department, a cull of badgers in the north Pembrokeshire Intensive Action Area would cost an estimated £4,990,000 but would lead to a saving of "at least £5,021,090".

By comparison, the vaccination policy adopted by the Welsh Government is estimated to cost £5,760,000 and will lead to a saving of only £2,304,000, meaning a net cost to taxpayers of £3,456,000.

Speaking after a meeting of FUW’s finance and organisation committee, during which members reiterated their disgust with the U-turn of many key politicians, the union's TB spokesman Brian Walters said: “The Welsh Government’s decision to vaccinate will lead to more cattle in north Pembrokeshire being infected with TB and slaughtered as a consequence.

"According to the government’s own figures, the cost to the taxpayer of doing this will be around £3.5 million more than it would have been if they’d proceeded with the cull.”

The FUW has always maintained that the merits of policies aimed at eradicating dangerous diseases like TB should not be assessed on the back of simplistic cost benefit analyses, but for years many argued against culling on the grounds that the costs outweighed any savings.

“As time has gone on the impact of culling has been found to be far more beneficial than some scientists had anticipated, making it at least cost-neutral, while at the same time saving the lives of cattle and preventing a great deal of heartache for farming families," said Mr Walters.

“The fact that the Welsh Government are now prepared to opt for a more expensive and less effective policy which will lead to a loss of £3.5 million to the taxpayer and the needless slaughter of thousands of cattle, rather than pursue a policy which science and economics tells us is best for Wales, speaks for itself.

“The decision is not only a betrayal of farmers but also a betrayal of taxpayers.”

[caption id="attachment_3632" align="aligncenter" width="500"] From left, Roger Van Praet, Tony Williams and Dave Manuel.[/caption]

FARMERS' Union of Wales Montgomeryshire area officer Tony Williams and his son-in-law Dave Manuel have made an emotional train ride to boost the union's charity fund for Cancer Research Wales (CRW).

Tony lost his daughter to breast cancer in December 2010 and he is recovering from prostate cancer.

He secured two tickets to ride on the footplate of a Ffestiniog Railway steam locomotive running between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog by offering the highest amount when they went up for auction among FUW members.

The generous donation of £300 made by Tony will go towards FUW president Emyr Jones's CRW appeal fund.

"Cancer, especially breast and prostate cancer, has been a major upheaval in our lives over the past two or three years, which is why we were more than happy to donate to the fund," said Tony.

"And, of course, Dave and I also wanted to ride on the footplate which turned out to be such a fantastic experience.

"Raising money for Cancer Research Wales is something worth doing and we can only encourage others to raise as many funds for this charity as possible," added Tony.

FUW deputy operations director and Ffestiniog Railway volunteer driver Roger Van Praet approached FR general manager Paul Lewin and was delighted to be given the two coveted footplate passes to ride on the engine for the day for auction for CRW.

"The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways work closely with our farming neighbours and are delighted to be able to support the FUW's chosen charity, Cancer Research Wales, in offering the passes for auction," said Mr Lewin.

The Farmers' Union of Wales has appointed former North East Wales common land development officer Rhys Lloyd Roberts as its county executive officer for Denbighshire and Flintshire.

Mr Roberts, of Llanrhaedr, Denbigh, was educated at Glan Clwyd Secondary School, Llanelwy; Llysfasi College, Ruthin; and Bangor and Manchester Universities. He started his new job at the FUW's office at 69A Clwyd Street, Ruthin, this week.

His previous job involved assisting common land graziers in Denbigh, Flint, Wrexham, and Montgomeryshire to enter the Common Land element of the Glastir agri-environment. His responsibilities included explaining how the Glastir scheme works and assisting graziers in establishing a grazing association and submitting an application.

Speaking about his new appointment, Mr Roberts said: "I have always been keen to secure a position within the agricultural industry in North Wales that will challenge me and, where possible, enable me to develop within the role in the future as well as build upon my existing skills and experience.

"As a native of the Vale of Clwyd, I grew up on a sheep farm on the hills between Denbigh and Ruthin where my father worked as a bailiff on a traditional estate.

“After leaving school and attending Llysfasi College, I spent around 10 years working on two prominent farming businesses in the Vale of Clwyd where I was able to gain valuable experience of the dairy, sheep and beef sectors."

In 1994 he entered the world of selling, firstly with a Massey Ferguson dealership (North Wales Agri Engineers, Trefnant, Denbigh) before he was offered a position with Conwy Land Rover Ltd. in 1995.

After graduating from Bangor and Manchester, he worked for the international engineering company Hyder Consulting as a consultant within the environment sector, dealing primarily with wind farm and road projects throughout Britain and Ireland. He spent the last six months of the job based in Sydney, Australia, where he worked on a new road projects and was also involved with a proposed desalination plant in Adelaide.

After returning from Australia, he spent nearly 18 months as a self-employed agricultural contractor before taking up the post as a Glastir Common Land Development Officer.

"I am now looking forward to working with and assisting the agricultural community in my native area and creating strong and beneficial relationships for both sides," Mr Roberts added.

"It is an exciting and interesting time for the agricultural industry. It will be both a challenge and a pleasure to be part of the industry in the future - working on behalf of the FUW’s members."

[caption id="attachment_3628" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Rhys Lloyd Roberts[/caption]