During a special FUW webinar held during the virtual Royal Welsh show speakers from England and Wales highlighted a range of actions the Welsh and UK Government should take to tackle the acute rural housing crisis.

The webinar, which was chaired by Farmers Guardian Chief Reporter Abi Kay, heard from Cumbria MP Tim Farron; Gwynedd County Council Leader Dyfrig Siencyn and Nefyn Town Council leader Rhys Tudur.

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated pressures on rural housing across the UK, causing rapid house-price inflation and placing rural houses even further beyond the financial reach of coastal and agricultural communities.

Former Liberal Democrat party leader Tim Farron told the webinar: “We can’t deny the evidence of our eyes, that excessive second home ownership in a community kills the community. I’ve talked to a range of estate agents around Cumbria, the best guess is something like 60-65% on average to up to 80% of all house sales in the last 15 months have been to the second home market.

Farmers from Montgomeryshire and Farmers’ Union of Wales officials have met with local MP Craig Williams and UK Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands to reinforce the industry's concerns about the free trade deal with Australia. 

Speaking after the virtual meeting on Monday 19 July , FUW Montgomeryshire Livestock, Wool and Marts committee delegate Mark Williams said: “I thank both Craig Williams and Greg Hands for discussing our concerns around the free trade deal with Australia. It was a great opportunity for our members to reiterate our concerns very clearly.” 

Australian farms, Union officials highlighted, benefit from significant advantages in terms of economies of scale: The average farm size in Australia is 10,700 acres compared with an average Welsh farm size of 125 acres, while 65% of Australian cattle farms have between 100 and 400 head of cattle, and farms of over 5,400 head of cattle account for 30% of the country's beef cattle. This compares to an average Welsh herd size of around 30.

Farming has a key role to play in looking after the environment and combating climate change but the production of food must not be excluded from the conversation, says Pembrokeshire beef, sheep and arable farmer Jayne Richards.

Jayne, who farms with her parents Michael and Margaret and husband Ali at Jordanston Farm, St Mary’s Park, Jordanston, just outside of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, has no doubt that if it weren’t for small family farms up and down the country the environment would suffer. The aesthetic look of the Welsh countryside would change dramatically, with rural communities being lost. 

However, the family are clear that food production and the care of the environment both have a critical role to play and one can’t function without the other.

The 350 acre farm, which is in the Glastir scheme, is home to 400 breeding ewes and 140 beef cattle, as well as a small suckler herd. The family keep mostly Welsh half bred ewes and breed their own Texel rams and replacement ewes. They also keep some store lambs in the autumn and winter to finish on root crops. 

As a major event in the farming calendar leaves a gaping hole for social gatherings this week (RWAS), one volunteer led healthy minds organisation in rural Wales will introduce two world class extreme sport personalities to an on-line event to inspire the farming community.

Number 1 World Machine Shearing titleholder, Richard Jones from Glyndyfrdwy and world-class extreme endurance runner and TV presenter, Lowri Morgan joins experienced broadcaster Nic Parry at Rhug Estate to share the endurance, resilience and mental strength needed to achieve these physical challenges.

The Welsh on-line event, which begins at 8pm, this Wednesday 21 July is organised by Nerth Dy Ben*, a volunteer-run organisation that aims to give individuals a platform to share positive experiences, in Welsh, about living and working in rural Wales.