The announcement by dairy co-operative First Milk, to defer payment for milk and to increase member capital contributions, is yet another setback for a Welsh dairy sector which is already reeling from a period of sustained low prices and poor profitability.

Last year saw months of consecutive downward milk pricing by many major milk buyers including Arla, First Milk and Dairy Crest and a lengthy delay in milk price recovery now seems certain due to problems such as over supply within the global marketplace.

FUW president Mr Emyr Jones said: “The decision to postpone milk cheques by two weeks will have a significant impact and FUW First Milk suppliers are extremely concerned about the decision.  Farmers are not in a position to defer paying their bills or direct debits so this decision places them in an untenable position.

“The FUW is naturally anxious that a major collector of milk in Wales is experiencing cash flow problems and we have discussed our concerns with First Milk following the announcement.

“The decision by First Milk to defer payments compounds the sustained low prices already experienced by dairy producers in Wales and adds to concerns about the volatility of the milk market and its impact on the viability of the sector.”

Farmers’ Union of Wales public relations director Peter Roberts today announced his retirement from the post - but he will continue to edit the union's monthly newspaper Y Tir/Welsh Farmer for the foreseeable future.

Sixty-six-year-old Mr Roberts said:  “I’ve just completed 50 years working in the media industry in Wales so instead of going into the office every day I will now keep in touch with all my fellow colleagues and contacts, inside and outside the industry, by working on Y Tir from home.

“It means I will retain some involvement in publicising the FUW’s first class service to the farming industry at a historic moment in the organisation’s long and successful history as it proudly enters its 60th anniversary year.

“And it thrills me to realise that when I was 15 I was a newspaper delivery boy - taking the South Wales Evening Post around my home village of Ferryside - and half a century later I edit a newspaper printed and produced by the Post’s current publishers South West Wales Media Ltd.”

FUW president Emyr Jones said: “On behalf of the FUW I would warmly like to thank Peter for his outstanding service to the FUW and Welsh agriculture, not only during his time with the union but also during his many years as a highly respected journalist. We wish him a long and happy retirement.”

After leaving Carmarthen’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Mr Roberts joined the Carmarthen Journal as a trainee reporter and just over two years later he was appointed the Post’s Carmarthen district junior reporter.

In September 1970 he became the Western Mail’s senior district reporter for Ceredigion, Montgomeryshire, Meirionnydd and Dwyfor and 14 years later the Cambrian News’ deputy editor.

He was appointed Cambrian News editor in July 1991 and after seven years in that post left to set up his own editorial consultancy pr.news which he successfully ran until April 2002 when he became FUW’s press officer and Y Tir’s editor.

He succeeded Alan Morris as FUW’s PR director in December 2006.

As the FUW approaches its 60^th anniversary we look back on a year in which falls in farmgate prices and income from the CAP has had a severe impact on farm incomes, but the exceptionally kind weather at least means we are going into 2015 with far more fodder than in previous years.

2014 is a year in which significant announcements have been made – both in terms of the union’s structure, with the creation of FUW Insurance Services Limited and other changes, and for Wales’ agriculture industry, with numerous key announcements, not least the appointment of Rebecca Evans as Deputy Minister for farming and food in July.

The Deputy Minister’s appointment marked a positive turning point in terms of recognition of the need for government and the FUW to work together for the good of the industry, while accepting that some differences of opinion will always exist. Whatever those differences are, or the challenges we face due to the impact of factors which are outside our control, I believe we are starting 2015 in a far stronger position because of the mutual respect between government and industry and the commitment to work together.

Such joined up thinking and working is going to be essential over the coming weeks and months, as we enter a period of major change and uncertainty: change due to the introduction of various rules relating to the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and uncertainty following the recent abolition of the 400 metre moorland line following a successful judicial review.

The new CAP rules represent a massive escalation in the administrative burden for farmers and government departments alike, despite the previous European Commissioner’s commitment to simplified rules, and these will have some serious repercussions for many Welsh farmers.

The FUW has already highlighted major concerns to the new Commissioner, former Irish Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan, and we will no doubt have the opportunity to raise concerns face-to-face when we welcome the Commissioner to the 2015 Royal Welsh Show.

Meanwhile, it is essential that farmers familiarise themselves with the new rules in order to minimise the risk of financial losses: 2015 is a reference year for the establishment of Basic Payment Scheme entitlements, so any errors or breaches – for example where a claimant cannot demonstrate sufficient management control of land taken on or where grazing is rented out – could result in permanent annual losses.

Anyone who needs guidance on such matters should contact their local FUW office, where they will receive a warm welcome and, if they are lucky, they may find a few mince pies left over!

Meanwhile, we look forward to a year in which the FUW celebrates sixty years of protecting the interests of members, and continues to deliver invaluable one-to-one services through its County Offices, which have secured more than half a billion pounds for members over the past decade alone.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2015.

[caption id="attachment_3887" align="aligncenter" width="300"] QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: From left, Chris Lewis, Rhian Nowell-Phillips and Darren Williams[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3888" align="aligncenter" width="300"] PACKED MEETING[/caption]

More than 80 younger Gwent farmers turned up to a packed meeting organised by the county branch of the FUW recently to help explain the various schemes and grants available to assist farmers under 40.

During the meeting at the King of Prussia public house in Abergavenny farm liaison officers Steve Meredith and Jane Walters gave a presentation on the Young Entrant Support Scheme and the young farmer top-up under the new Basic Payment Scheme.

They also explained the requirements for applying to the National Reserve under the New Entrant, Young Farmer and Proof of Production criteria.

Following the presentation, FUW county chairman Chris Lewis conducted a question and answer session with the union’s voice for younger farmers committee chairman Darren Williams and deputy agricultural policy director Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

FUW county executive officer Glyn Davies said a brief questionnaire completed by the attendees highlighted the need for such meetings, with the comments proving the enthusiasm that exists amongst the younger farmers of Gwent.

The intention is to hold a further meeting specifically for this group of members in February, he added.

“It was extremely pleasing to see such a fantastic turn-out for this meeting which highlights the need to involve the future farmers of the county in the work of the union," said Mr Davies.

"These young farmers will be the custodians of our industry for many years to come and it is vital that they are involved in shaping the industry in order to meet the huge challenge of feeding a growing population whilst complying with the myriad of rules and regulations which exist.”