“We need a partnership deal based on commitment, support and sustainability” - that was the call from Farmers’ Union of Wales President Glyn Roberts at the annual farmhouse breakfast event in Cardiff, which was sponsored by Llyr Hughes Griffiths AM (Tuesday, 21 January).

Addressing Government Ministers, Assembly Members, industry stakeholders and civil servants, he said: “A new Assembly election is not that far away and our nation is at a crossroads. European membership is over; long-standing trade arrangements are up for grabs and, crucially, fundamental funding is to be redefined.

“With so much at stake, it is essential that we all play a part in healing divisions and encouraging the strongest democratic participation.”  

Mr Roberts highlighted that Wales’ rich network of family farms supports and fuels local communities, pump primes the circular economy and protects and nourishes our special Welsh culture and identity. 

Farmers in Wales, he said, are committed to doing everything they can but the Welsh Government had a role to play too. 

“Farmers look after our precious landscape for local people and visitors to enjoy every day of the year. Our grass-based, rain refreshed, livestock production system is one of the world’s most sustainable.

“Our farmers harness, encourage, replenish and replace the planet’s natural resources. Our ewes, lambs and cattle are raised with the highest welfare standards. We work with nature; we produce in harmony with the planet.

“This honest way of providing wholesome food must not be spoken of in the same breath as those intensive farming empires in other parts of the world that readily pillage the environment for profit.

“We need your help to climb above the noise; your help to promote our timeless story, our way of producing and our farming champions.”

Addressing the role farmers in Wales are willing to play in producing more than just food, he said: “Our industry can continue to lead the way with the Welsh Government’s alternative energy ambitions. Between 2010 and 2017, with Government intervention, renewable energy production in Wales doubled.”

But it doesn’t end with renewable energy production, Mr Roberts stressed. “Sustainability is not just about our industry’s positive contributions to the environmental necessity of combatting climate change. 

The latest data relating to bovine TB in Wales has revealed an alarming and unsustainable rise in the number of cattle slaughtered due to this disease. 

According to recent data, the number of cattle slaughtered in Wales in the 12 months to October 2019 was 12,742 and this is the highest number on record. 

Indeed, whilst the most recent data reveals a 12% fall in New Herd Incidents in the 12 months to October 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered over the same period was 24% higher than the previous year.  

FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Although the data from TB Dashboard shows improvement in some areas, the number of cattle slaughtered remains unsustainably high.  Just 917 cattle were culled in 1996 due to this disease and it is a sad and disturbing fact that the Welsh cattle sector has now become somewhat used to cattle slaughterings reaching the many thousands each year.”

The Union President added that losing TB-free status is devastating to farming families and their businesses.  “The loss of precious stock and the restrictions on a farm business can be incredibly destructive and it is extremely distressing for our members who have worked hard to gain TB-free status, only to lose it again in the subsequent years.

Farmers’ Union of Wales’ (FUW) staff have expressed major concerns regarding the implications for members, who are National Trust tenants, given the Trust’s plans to plant large numbers of trees on their land. 

The concerns were expressed during a meeting of the Union’s County Executive Officers who represent members in Wales’ twelve FUW county regions, some of which include large areas of land owned by the trust.

On Thursday (January 9) the General Director of the Trust revealed plans to grow 20 million trees over the next 10 years by planting saplings or removing livestock to allow self-seeding and dozens of farm tenancies are to be altered as they come up for renewal to cut sheep and cattle numbers.

To achieve their target, the Trust is looking to spend about £90 million creating 18,000 hectares of woodland, increasing the proportion of Trust land that is forest from 10 % to 17 % by 2030.

Speaking after the meeting, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Our members are fully supportive of appropriate tree planting where this does not undermine farm productivity and the environment. Indeed they regularly complain about the obstacles they come across when they try to plant trees.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and it is a great opportunity to talk and share your thoughts before starting the day.

In order to promote the health benefits and have a good catch up before the day starts, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) Ceredigion team is once again hosting a farmhouse breakfast on:

Tuesday, January 21: Felinfach Hall, SA48 8AH

Wednesday, January 22: Caerwedros Hall, SA44 6BS

Friday, January 24: Penrhyncoch Hall, SY23 3EL

FUW Ceredigion County Chairman Morys Ioan said: “We all get really excited about our farmhouse breakfast every year. We can start the day together with family, friends and neighbours, in a positive way and at the same time raise money for our charitable cause, the DPJ Foundation.

“All of us are looking forward to yet another good turnout. It’s fair to say that a healthy start is not just good for a healthy heart but also for a healthy mind.”

The FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week (Monday 20 January - Sunday 26 January) also provides an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow in a sustainable way, and throughout breakfast week the FUW will shine a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.

“I hope many of you will be able to join us for breakfast. We want you to be a part of what we do, and share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other, and what better way to do that than around a table where we share great food and have a cup of tea,” added Morys Ioan.

To book your seat at the table, contact the FUW’s Ceredigion office on 01570 424 515.