by Angharad Evans, Welsh Language Communications Officer

And here we are! The last Cornel Clecs of 2022! Where did the year go?! At the end of another quite challenging year it is nice to be able to end the year on an heartening and positive note. Amidst all the troubles at the moment, politically and economically, let's consider the important things that are sometimes forgotten, namely the kindness of people, and those who think of others.

The majority of you will remember Mr Emyr O Roberts who worked as an FUW Area Officer in South East Denbighshire from 1990 until 2003. But that wasn’t the start of his connection with the Union. His late father was an enthusiastic member for many years, and Emyr is also a loyal member of the FUW Denbighshire and Flint branch. Very interestingly, he remembers seconding a proposal from Mr Tom Jones Cwm Nant yr Eira regarding the future of the family farm at an annual meeting, possibly sometime in the late sixties, something that is of course so relevant to us today.

by Angharad Evans, Welsh Language Communications Officer

I'm sure that we’ve all enjoyed looking at pictures and reading about our county offices going out to their local schools to celebrate World School Milk Day recently.

Opportunities like this are crucial in order to teach children from a very young age exactly where the food on their plate comes from. As a Union we are extremely fortunate to have members who are willing to do just that, give some of their valuable time to spend with school children to teach them about the importance of agriculture and promote all the benefits of the food they produce. 

One who does just that is Dan Jones, and takes advantage of the fact that he farms one of the most popular attractions in Wales, the Great Orme in Llandudno, to educate the public and school children. Dan was one of a number of farmers who took part in our Food, Land and People campaign last year, which focussed on various sustainability issues and highlighted the positive work farmers in Wales do to address sustainable development goals.

As the saying goes, blink and you’ll miss it. 2022 has been another challenging and busy year for the FUW Group and I must thank all the staff and officials for their continued hard work in making sure we have thriving, sustainable family farms in Wales. We have said good-bye to a few familiar faces this year and I thank the former members of staff who have diligently served the Union for so many years, with special thanks to Peter Davies and Kate Ellis-Evans.

The topics we have dealt with have been far and wide, ranging from land grab issues, the ‘NVZ’ regulations, animal health concerns, climate change and tree planting targets, the first ever Welsh Agriculture Bill that will change how we farm for generations to come, as well as many political ups and downs in Westminster. It’s fair to say that we were kept on our toes throughout the year.

2022 has been a challenge for the UK economy with inflation rates continuing to exacerbate pressures on domestic households as well as businesses and food producers in particular. At the start of the year, our Milk and Dairy Produce Committee warned that rising energy prices were - and are still - not sustainable for the sector. The warning came immediately after reports from dairy farmers of energy costs rising by up to £1,000 a month.

by Alun Edwards, FUW representative on the Education and Hill Farming committees

Social media can be a blessing and a curse, depending on its use. When media company Four Cymru asked if they could come and make a five-minute video focusing on sustainable farming for HCC, I never thought where it would lead. In no time at all, after it was broadcasted in 2020, it had been watched 275,000 times, a tribute to HCC's promotion and marketing skills for sure.

As a result of this, I quickly understood that the National Geographic television company was trying to contact me after seeing the video, eventually leading to a conversation over Zoom with a man called Doug Veith, who was keen to use the story of Welsh sustainable lamb in an episode of a series called "Uncharted". The series was based on the adventures of a well-known chef to remote places all over the world meeting food producers, and completing many challenges in the process. I asked who...oh, confidential, and had to sign a N.D.A.,"non disclosure agreement" that would be in place during the filming period. I was a little nervous by now, but I agreed! "Never turn down an opportunity" would be my father's advice every time!

The complications then began; could I send videos of possible places to land a helicopter? Can we come in April, yes ok, in the middle of lambing?! Where would a TV crew of over 30 be able to stay, not far from the farm?