The Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is holding a special meeting to provide members and friends of the union with an opportunity to quiz general election candidates in the county.

The event will take place on Thursday April 9 commencing at 7.30pm at Aberaeron Rugby Club and has been jointly organised with Wynnstay plc and the CLA.

“This will be the largest and most comprehensive agricultural hustings in Ceredigion and all are welcome to hear the candidates’ debate the future of our industry. It promises to be a lively event and we are delighted to have joined forces with other sectors of the agricultural industry in order to create an overarching agricultural hustings event for all Ceredigion farmers,” said FUW Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones.

Candidates confirmed to attend the general election hustings are Plaid Cymru candidate Mike Parker, Labour party candidate Huw Thomas, Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Williams, Green Party candidate Daniel Thompson and UKIP candidate Gethin James.

“The implications of decisions made in Westminster have a significant effect on the day-to-day working of farmers and landowners and even though many of the rules and regulations stem from the European Parliament, the UK as a member-state has an essential role to play around that table.

“It is essential for farmers and landowners to have the opportunity to question and query party candidates as well as hearing their views on the future of rural Wales. The meeting will be chaired by local Independent councillor and farmer Gareth Lloyd of Clettwr Farm, Talgarreg, and we would like to extend a warm welcome to all those able to take an hour away from the lambing and calving to join us for this important event,” added Miss Wyn-Jones.

The dairy industry has today launched its ‘Action Johne’s’ initiative; a disease control programme developed by the Action Group on Johne’s which aims at engaging eighty per cent of dairy farmers in Great Britain in Johne’s management activities by October 2016.

FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright said: “The union recognises the importance of tackling this costly disease and has engaged in the development of this initiative in order to give voice to the perspectives and needs of farmers in Wales.  The union will continue to remain involved in order to ensure that the maximum benefits of this valuable initiative are provided to Wales.”

Johne’s disease is a chronic wasting disease in cattle that is found in dairy herds throughout the world.  The disease is caused by a bacterium that primarily attacks the intestinal tract and causes inflammation.  This inflammation reduces the ability of infected animals to properly absorb nutrients from their food and can lead to weight loss, loss of condition and infertility.

The Dairy UK-led 'Action Group for Johne's', which includes the FUW and other industry stakeholders, was established to increase awareness of the disease and ensure more farmers take action to prevent their livestock from catching it.

Dr Wright added that it is vital that we have a viable and sustainable dairy industry and in that respect it is important that we address issues such as Johne’s disease in dairy herds.

“Clinical signs of the disease are not specific to Johne’s and do not show in cattle until they are about three years old. There is no cure for the disease and a lack of clinical signs can lead to cattle being culled for other reasons such as infertility or lameness,” said Dr Wright.

Infection is most common in young animals and occurs through contamination of the environment or ingestion of contaminated milk from an infected cow. It can also be transmitted from an infected pregnant animal to its foetus.

“In the past, the union has highlighted that farmers can actively help to eliminate the disease by reducing the amount of faecal contamination that young calves are exposed to. A non-infected herd generally becomes exposed through herd expansion or replacement animals that are carriers of the disease. It is therefore important to know the Johne’s status of the animals being purchased.

“Given that a Johne’s problem can reduce the life time productivity and health of infected herds, it is essential that we understand how to manage this disease in order to get the best out of our herds,” added Dr Wright.

[caption id="attachment_5110" align="aligncenter" width="173"] Newtown-based area officer David Lush receives the FUW’s annual business award for best managed portfolio in 2014[/caption]

The insurance arm of the Farmers’ Union of Wales has today appointed former FUW Montgomeryshire area officer David Lush to the position of sales manager within FUW Insurance Services.

“David has been a dedicated and successful employee here at the FUW for the last ten years and has almost doubled his GPI in that time. As you can imagine, competition for this role has been fierce and there were applications from several highly qualified candidates, but it was felt that David’s experience and previous achievements set him apart from the competition,” said FUW Insurance Services managing director Mark Roberts.

Prior to joining the union, David worked as the operations manager at Entrepreneur Action where he built a division of business advisers in support of the Welsh Government’s business support programme, he also held the role of area director at Barclays in Kent where he managed 14 senior managers and 37 support staff, and area manager for Barclays in Mid Wales where he managed 35 staff across 3 sites who specialised in the small and medium-sized enterprises market.

“On assuming the role of sales manager David will oversee the area officers’ we already have in place and will also be responsible for training our new starters. He will also assist me in arranging and approving new deals and schemes with our existing insurer partners and potential new partners,” added Mr Roberts.

[caption id="attachment_5107" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Welcoming Mari to the FUW team are (l-r) FUW president Emyr Jones, FUW Denbighshire county chairman John Roberts, FUW Flintshire county chairman Tim Faire and FUW stalwart and former Denbighshire county executive officer Meurig Voyle.[/caption]

A farmers daughter from Ruthin has been appointed as the new Farmers' Union of Wales county executive officer for Denbighshire and Flintshire.

Mari Dafydd Jones, 25, who commenced her role on Tuesday March 17 said: "I grew up on a farm not far from Ruthin and my father has always been a member of the FUW, he farms 250 sheep and 140 store cattle.  I now live on a farm in Nantglyn with my partner Arfon, who has had the pleasure of taking over the family farm from his grandparents."

In her previous role as European funding officer for Denbighshire County Council, Mari was responsible for the monitoring of all European Funded projects within the county and also to assist community groups and departments within the council to secure funding for their projects.

Mari and her partner Arfon currently farm around 100 store cattle which they buy in as calves and are hoping to expand over the next year.

"One of the responsibilities I have within the business and something I really enjoy is to buy in the calves and you will no doubt be seeing me regularly at the farmers markets buying calves.

"I have always wanted to work within the agricultural industry and now I have been given the opportunity to do so which I am very grateful for. The next few years are going to be very exciting and interesting for the industry and I hope as an enthusiastic and passionate young farmer I can make a difference," added Ms Jones.