Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Keir Starmer has heard why #FairFarmFunding and clarity of future trade deals is crucial for the survival of rural Wales and its farming communities, when he visited a beef and sheep farm in Glamorgan.

Opening the gates to Flaxland farm to show the Brexit Shadow Secretary why Wales and its rural communities need to keep the same amount of funding as it currently receives and why farmers are so worried about their export market, were FUW Glamorgan County Chairman Richard Walker and his partner Rachel Edwards.

The couple run the 120 acre holding just outside of Barry, and look after 120 breeding ewes, 3 rams, 40 lambs from last year, 150 lambs from this year and 100 cattle (consisting of 37 breeding 60 young stock).

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed a ruling by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) which bans an advert by vegan pressure group ‘Viva!’ on the grounds that it misled consumers.

The advert wrongly claimed that constituents of cows’ milk could be linked to cancer. However the ASA ruled that this claim could not be substantiated with scientific evidence.  The advert was placed upon buses in Bristol last September.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer, said: “Dairy products are known to be a nutritional and beneficial component of a healthy diet.   Unfortunately, despite high welfare, environmental and hygiene standards, the dairy sector has frustratingly been subjected to unsubstantiated and detrimental claims by a vegan pressure group.

“FUW dairy farmers will no doubt be pleased by the ASA ruling and we welcome moves which continue to weed out false and misleading claims against our industry,” added Dr Wright.

Alongside a ban on the current advert, the ASA ruling prohibits Viva! from making similar claims in the future.

Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May), and farmers and their families across Wales are being reminded that ‘it’s ok to say’.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers and those living in rural areas not to hide problems from themselves, their families and friends but to talk about their personal feelings.

The FUW made a commitment at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show in July 2017 to continue raising awareness of mental health problems in rural communities and is therefore renewing the call for those who might be suffering from mental health problems to seek help.

“The focus of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week  is on stress and farmers across the country will be all too familiar with that. In our places of work we’ve faced some pretty low-points in the last few years. Bovine TB, price volatility and uncertainty about our future post-Brexit, this all puts a strain on our resolve and will have many feeling stressed and under immense pressure,” said Union President Glyn Roberts.

“But we must break the stigma attached to mental health, so if you’re feeling vulnerable, please open-up and speak to someone. That doesn’t just mean today or over the course of this week -, but always. Farmers and farming families need to continue talking openly about what they are experiencing and the FUW strongly encourages anyone who is worried about their own mental health or a loved-one, to seek help from the Farming Community Network, Tir Dewi, The DPJ Foundation, Mind Cymru or Call Helpline Wales,” added Glyn Roberts.
 

Farmers are being reminded to remain vigilant, following the theft of a quad bike in the Llandeilo area, Carmarthenshire.

Dyfed-Powys Police has arrested two men on suspicion of stealing a quad bike, both of which are currently in police custody.

Responding to the news, FUW Carmarthenshire CEO David Waters said: “Every year rural crime costs millions of pounds and causes untold anxiety to farmers and rural businesses. We know that the majority of thefts from farms are opportunistic, in that the thieves see what is available and easy to take.

“The advice to farmers is clear: take basic precautions such as removing keys from machinery and quad bikes and ensure tools are locked away when not used.  Also padlocking gates can be a good deterrent as well as CCTV.”