As summer gets into full swing and the school holidays are approaching, the Farmers' Union of Wales is calling on drivers of all slow moving vehicles to defuse road rage by moving over and allowing faster traffic to pass.

"Getting stuck behind a slow moving vehicle on a twisting country lane with no opportunity to overtake is very frustrating," said Richard Vaughan, chairman of the FUW's land use committee.

"It is especially annoying on hot summer days for local people who are anxious to keep appointments and for tourists whose enjoyment of their holidays can be spoiled.

"The thoughtlessness of some drivers who forget to pull over when they are being followed by a long line of traffic is a recipe for road rage," said Mr Vaughan.

"It can often lead to drivers taking unnecessary risks and overtaking at the most inappropriate times and places, creating a danger to themselves and to other road users."

Although tractors are often blamed for hold-ups, slow-moving lorries and cars towing caravans could also be at fault.

"The Highway Code states that anyone causing traffic to back up as a result of their slow speed must pull over at the earliest and safest opportunity to allow faster vehicles to pass," he said.

"The FUW is reminding all drivers of slow moving vehicles to think of other road users and to follow the Highway Code."

FORMER Welsh rugby international Dafydd Jones will be signing his new book Dal Fy Nhir (Stand My Ground) at the Farmers' Union of Wales Pavilion at 11am on the second day of the four-day Royal Welsh Show (Tuesday July 19) in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.

The ex-Scarlets back-row player is midway through a testimonial year with his Llanelli-based club. Born in Aberystwyth, he was capped 42 times for Wales but he is still a country boy at heart.

"The FUW has a close relationship with the Scarlets as the club covers virtually the whole of rural Wales from where it recruits most of its promising young players," said the union's president Emyr Jones.

"Last February prominent Welsh Black Cattle breeder, FUW member Trefor Jones of Bow Street, near Aberystwyth, provided a Welsh Black bull which led the pre-match parade around the Parc y Scarlets pitch when the region hosted Ulster in a Magners League match.

"The appearance of the bull was part of the Farm Day events which we enthusiastically took part in at the stadium before and after the match. So it is fitting that Dafydd should be spending time on our stand during the show.

"He is a young man from rural Ceredigion and as a young boy from the countryside he developed an interest in hunting and trotting races.

"Whilst at Aberaeron Comprehensive School he began taking an interest in rugby and soon won the interest of Llanelli rugby club.

"After playing his last ever game against New Zealand be was forced to give up rugby due to injury. It's a shame that his career came to an end before his passion for the game faded - but his passion for the rural way of life in Wales remains as strong as ever which is evident in his book."

Dafydd was faithful to the club of the "Sosban Fach" throughout his career, playing more than 200 times for Llanelli and the Scarlets.

His biggest compliment came from Richie McCaw, the world's best wing forward, when he said that Dafydd Jones was the hardest opponent he'd ever faced.

His book, published by Y Lolfa, Talybont, Ceredigion, at £9.95, has been described as the autobiography of a "warm-hearted Welshman", looking back over his career, giving his no-nonsense opinion of the coaches he played for and telling stories of some stars of world rugby on and off the pitch.

FREE advice on some of the burning issues facing Welsh farmers will be available at the Farmers' Union of Wales Pavilion alongside the main ring at this year's Royal Welsh Show (July 18-21).

Staff representing The Pension Disability and Carers Service will be in attendance each day to give advice and information on the allowances and pensions payable to farmers and other "customers".

Information concerning solar energy, wind turbines and biodigesters will also be available along with professional advice on rent reviews, compensation claims and grants from Oswestry-based Davis Meade Property Consultants (DMPC) staff.

"This will be an opportunity for farmers to get a free independent opinion on issues that are bothering them and to find out how renewable energy can reduce energy bills and bring in additional income," said Philip Meade, of DMPC.

DMPC staff will also be available to FUW members for a free consultation on their stand at Oswestry Show on August 6 and on the FUW stand at many other shows including Cardigan (July 27), Brecon (August 6), Glamorgan county (August 10), Pembrokeshire (August 16-18), Anglesey Show (August 9-10), Flint and Denbigh (August 18), Merioneth Show (August 24) and the Welsh Dairy Event at Carmarthen (October 18).

Also during the Royal Welsh Show BT Wales representatives will be at the FUW Pavilion to answer questions on the provision of rural broadband and - for the first two days - environment officers and catchment coordinators from Environment Agency Wales will be present to deal with a wide range of environmental and agricultural issues.

"As well as all this free advice, FUW members can expect a warm welcome and a free cuppa and a biscuit if they pop in and renew old friendships," said the union's newly-elected president Emyr Jones.

The Farmers' Union of Wales has welcomed the Welsh Government's commitment to a strong Common Agricultural Policy and recognition of the symbiotic relationship between food production and the environment during a meeting with deputy minister for agriculture Alun Davies.

The meeting, attended by senior FUW officials and staff, was held in response to the minister's commitment at the union's recent annual general meeting to meet with its new FUW president Emyr Jones and deputy president Glyn Roberts.

Mr Jones described the meeting as the first of many useful dialogues between the union and the deputy minister. "In welcoming the deputy minister's statement on the CAP, we emphasised the need for proactive work to be undertaken in order to ensure we get the best deal for Wales," he said.

During the meeting, a broad range of issues relating to the future CAP and the critical decisions which will take place over the coming months were discussed.

"The union emphasised the desperate need for the Welsh Government to drive ahead with modelling work so we know where we currently stand, and where we want to be under the new CAP, given the inevitable move away from the historic single payment model," Mr Jones added.

"Knowledge of such information should be an essential basis for any discussions with Westminster and Brussels over the future of the CAP, and the delay in undertaking such work is regrettable."

During the meeting, the union emphasised its major concerns regarding the Glastir agri-environment scheme and the impact that the possible greening of the CAP might have on the scheme.

"From the outset we have argued that Glastir was rushed in without proper consideration of the impact of the scheme and now the possible mandatory 'greening' of pillar 1 payments could create major problems post-2013 if these measures overlap with Glastir requirements."

The union also highlighted major concerns regarding additional rules relating to the common land element of Glastir which had not been discussed with the industry.

"In their current form these rules are likely to restrict access to the Glastir scheme by Welsh commoners for all but a tiny minority and action must therefore be taken immediately to make access more attractive," said Mr Jones.

"Under its current format the entry level common land Glastir scheme requires compliance with rules which are far more daunting than those which apply to higher level schemes."