Farmers from Montgomeryshire are once again heating up the frying pans and are inviting you to join them for breakfast.

The two breakfast, held on Monday, 21 January at Bwyty Maengwyn, Machynlleth  and Friday, 25 January at Plas Du, Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant are part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week, which aims to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year.

The breakfasts will start at 9.00 am and will cost £10 per person, with all the proceeds being split between Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Farming Community Network.

“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 round a table where we share great food and have a cup of tea,” said FUW Montgomeryshire CEO Emyr Wyn Davies.

To book your seat at the breakfast table contact the team on 01686 626 889.

The Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held a successful information evening for farmers, helping them get up to speed on the upcoming changes to the VAT submission system and rural crime.

The event which was held at the Picton Centre, Haverfordwest, heard from  Julian Harries and Gethin Davies, of DMB Davies accountants, who explained about the upcoming changes to the VAT submission system from 1 April 2019 and PC Gerwyn Davies and PCSO Jude Parr, of Dyfed Powys Police Pembrokeshire Rural Crime Team, outlined their new roles explaining how they could assist farmers and how farmers could help them to fight rural crime.

Speaking after the event, FUW Pembrokeshire CEO Rebecca Voyle said: “I would like to thank the staff from  DMB Davies accountants, Dyfed Powys Police Pembrokeshire Rural Crime Team and of course our members who attended for making the evening such a success.

“We are looking to arrange similar meetings in the future so if there any issues that you would like us to arrange a meeting on just let us know in the county office.”

Farmers and those working in the agricultural industry need to ensure that farm safety remains on their priority list for the coming year and that they comply with the relevant health and safety regulations, the Farmers’ Union of Wales warns.

The warning follows a reminder from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that a programme of inspections will review health and safety standards on farms across the country, and that the inspections will soon begin.

According to the HSE, the inspections will ensure those responsible for protecting themselves and workers are doing the right things to comply with the law and prevent death, injury and ill-health.  If they are not HSE will not hesitate to use enforcement to bring about improvements.

FUW Meirionnydd CEO Huw Jones, who represents the FUW at the Wales Farm Safety Partnership, said: “33 people were killed in agriculture across Britain in 2017/18 - around 18 times higher than the all industry fatal injury rate.

“That means 33 families have lost a loved one. We also know that in the last ten years, almost one person a week has been killed as a direct result of agricultural work and many more have been seriously injured or made ill by their work. Statistics further show that nearly half of the agricultural workers killed were over 65.

A warm welcome and mouth-watering smells await those joining the Glamorgan and Gwent breakfast functions, which have been organised as part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week campaign (January 21 – January 27).

The Glamorgan events are being held on Monday, 21 January at Cwm Farm Shop, Treorchy and Friday, 25 January at Town Hall, Cowbridge.  

And the Gwent  events are being held on Tuesday, 22 January at Trevine Farm, Treadam, Thursday, 24 January at Nelson RFC, Nelson, Caerphilly (Joint with FUW Glamorgan), as well as on Friday, 25 January at Ty Oakley Farm, Hafodyrynys.   

“It is about showcasing the most important meal of the day in a bid to raise awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of breakfast and the huge variety of top quality farm produce available in Wales – ranging from bacon, sausages and eggs to speciality dairy products, breads and cereals. We are really looking forward to these events and hope many of you can join us,” said FUW Gwent CEO Glyn Davies.

The breakfasts will start at 8.30am and will cost £10 per person, with all the proceeds being split between Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Farming Community Network.