Farmers from Carmarthenshire are invited to join the Farmers’ Union of Wales for two special meetings, which will provide an update on the most urgent farming matters, including climate change, Brexit, water quality and BVD.

Addressing the meeting at the Talardd Inn, Llanllwni on Thursday 24 January, is FUW Head of Policy Dr Nick Fenwick, and FUW Policy Officer Charlotte Priddy will address the meeting at the Cottage Inn, Llandeilo on Tuesday January 29.

Both meetings start at 7.30pm

FUW Carmarthen CEO David Waters said: “We look forward to welcoming members to our sub-branch meetings and hope many of you can make it. These meetings will provide you with an update on the most urgent matters relevant to our industry, as well as giving you the chance to ask questions.”

For further information contact the Carmarthen office on 01267 237974.

The appointment of Welsh beef and sheep farmer Geraint Davies to the Board of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has been welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW).

Geraint, who farms at Fedw Arian Uchaf, Rhyduchaf, Y Bala, with his wife Rachael, is also FUW Meirionnydd County Chair and Chair of the Union’s Younger Voice for Farming Committee.

Geraint and Rachael, both believers that food production and environmental conservation go hand in hand, keep 1000 Welsh mountain ewes and a commercial herd of 40 suckler cows.

Welcoming Geraint’s appointment to the board, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Given that 90 percent of Wales is managed by farmers, the appointment of a Welsh farmer to NRW’s board is long overdue.

Dementia advisers are to join farmers for breakfast in Pembrokeshire, and are ready to chat to anyone who would like to know more about what help is on offer for those who have had a dementia diagnosis.

The breakfasts, held on Tuesday 22 January 2019, at Canolfan Hermon, Hermon, SA36 0DT and Friday 25 January 2019, at Crundale Hall, SA62 4DF, have been organised by the Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union as part of the Union’s Farmhouse Breakfast week (Monday 21 - Sunday 27 January 2019).

Dementia Advisers Heather Harrison and Maxine Ford cover all of Pembrokeshire and offer support and information about dementia.   

Their referrals come mainly from the memory clinic, G.P.’s, other organisations and self-referrals. The information they provide is through the ‘Dementia Connect’ service, which is a combination of telephone, print and online support, as well as face to face home visits.

Both Dementia Advisers are able to discuss individual’s needs and concerns and signpost to the relevant support.

Breakfast will be served from 8.00am to 10.30am in Hermon and 8.30am to 11am in Crundale and will cost £10 per person, with all the proceeds being split between Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Farming Community Network.

It’s that time of year again when we start thinking about Single Application Forms (SAF). The application window opens on Monday 4 March and the Farmers’ Union of Wales is reminding its members that county staff are here to help and ready to take the stress of filling the form away from you.

The FUW provides this free service exclusively to all paid-up members as part of their membership package, which has proved invaluable for thousands of members over the years - saving them time and a paperwork-headache.

FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “Our staff are not only well trained but very well practised in dealing with the complex application process.The SAF completion process is probably the single most important form completion exercise being carried out by Welsh farmers since 2004, and the financial repercussions of errors on the forms are severe.”

Since the Welsh Government mandated that all applications should be done online, the FUW is focused on providing the best possible service to its members.

“I encourage our members and first time form fillers to contact their local office as soon as possible to book an appointment if they need help in filling out the form,” added Alan Davies.