The Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is joining in the effort to highlight the importance of having a good breakfast by hosting two farmhouse breakfast functions next week.

“Building on the success of last year’s breakfast function at Trefere Fawr, we have this year organised two breakfasts to raise money for the president’s charities T? Gobaith and T? Hafan and to celebrate the fantastic food we produce not only here in Ceredigion but across Wales,” said FUW Ceredigion county executive officer Caryl Wyn-Jones.

FUW members Sian and Gareth Price will open their doors at 9am on Tuesday, January 27, at Tyn Rhyd, Devils Bridge, Aberystwyth to welcome the rural community for a hearty breakfast in their converted barn, which is also a new business venturing out as a wedding venue, conference and team building location and which also functions as holiday accommodation.

The second breakfast is being hosted by FUW members Arwel and Mary Davies of Pantswllt farm, Talgarreg at Talgarreg Memorial Hall on Wednesday, January 28, also starting at 9am.

“This is not only an opportunity to have a quality Welsh breakfast with items donated by local producers and suppliers such as Birchgrove Eggs, Bara Gwalia of Llanybydder, Owain’s the Butcher of Aberaeron, FUW member and local Llannon butcher Ben Evans and Costcutters Aberaeron, but a chance for farmers to come together to debate the forthcoming change to an area based CAP payment system and to talk to FUW staff about the new Basic Payment scheme,” added Miss Wyn-Jones.

“This is about much more than having a hearty breakfast. Through these functions we create opportunities for farmers across the county to debate current Welsh agricultural policy and it gives us a chance as a union to hear their concerns and ensure they are represented.

“We would like to ask those wishing to attend to contact Emma Davies at the Aberaeron FUW office on 01545 571 222 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  to confirm their place by Thursday, January 22.  This year we only have 30 spaces per breakfast function and therefore we need to operate on a first come first serve basis,” added Miss Wyn-Jones.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales Meirionnydd county branch annual general meeting at the end of the month will give members an opportunity to look at the current state of the agricultural industry and consider its future direction.

The meeting will take place on Friday January 30 (7.30pm) at Clwb Rygbi, Dolgellau and speakers for the evening include shadow minister for sustainable communities for Plaid Cymru, Llyr Huws Griffith AM, Welsh Government director of agriculture, food and marine, Andrew Slade and Hafod y Llan, Nant Gwynant farm manager and former FUW director of policy Arwyn Owen.

FUW county executive officer Huw Jones will also present a short report of the branch’s activities during 2014 at the start of the meeting.

“Once again we are appealing for a strong representation of members from all parts of the county. The meeting will be an ideal opportunity to consider the future of the industry in the short and medium term.”

Further details about the event can be obtained by telephone on 01341 422298 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FOLLOWING a successful Wales Coastal Path walk and hog roast evening last September, the chairmen of FUW Denbighshire and Flintshire branches recently presented a cheque to union vice president Richard Vaughan - who accepted the money on behalf of president Emyr Jones - for the union’s chosen charity T? Gobaith and T? Hafan childrens' hospices.

The final total raised by the members, families and friends of the two counties was £4,278.

County executive officer Rhys Roberts said: “it was an outstanding effort on the part of the two counties to raise such a significant sum for an extremely worthwhile cause.

“This reflects the excellent support within the two counties for the union.”

[caption id="attachment_4120" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] UNION SUPPORT: From left, FUW Denbighshire county chairman John Roberts and Flintshire county chairman Tim Faire present the cheque to Richard Vaughan.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4108" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kick-starting Farmhouse Breakfast Week at the Assembly, from left, deputy minister for farming and food Rebecca Evans, Hybu Cig Cymru chairman Dai Davies and FUW president Emyr Jones.[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales president Emyr Jones has highlighted the need for political leaders to come up with strategies which deal with the severe collapse in farmgate milk prices and the longer term viability of food production.

Speaking after the function, during which he told a gathering of more than 100 AMs and industry leaders that confidence within the dairy industry had collapsed, Mr Jones said:

“Action by supermarkets, dairy processors and governments is desperately needed in order to boost dairy farm incomes and confidence.

“However, we also need a long term strategy which takes account of the importance of food producers and food security, and the huge changes in agricultural policies which have occurred over the years.”

“We have gone from guaranteed prices to the watering down of the CAP and now quota abolition is imminent. Many want a further acceleration in the form of the complete dismantling of the CAP and complete exposure to global price volatility.

“But there is no real ‘Plan B’ which reflects the importance of protecting food producers and ensuring food security, and unless action is taken to recognise this I fear we are slowly opening Pandora’s box at a time when food trade wars and the threat of terrorism should place the issue very much at the centre of the EU’s agenda.”

Mr Jones told those present at the function that the newly introduced Common Agricultural Policy was the latest incarnation of policies drawn up more than fifty years ago by people with first-hand experience of the economic and human impact of more than a decade of food shortages and price volatility.

“The powers that be must recognise that policies which protect our food supplies are at least as important as policies aimed at preventing financial crises, and that the arguments in favour of common policies and controls which protect farm incomes and food production are as valid today as they was sixty years ago.

“EU membership is inherent to those policies, and the consequences of leaving the EU and the 700 million customers who live on mainland Europe would be dire,” he added.