During a special FUW webinar held during the virtual Royal Welsh show speakers from England and Wales highlighted a range of actions the Welsh and UK Government should take to tackle the acute rural housing crisis.

The webinar, which was chaired by Farmers Guardian Chief Reporter Abi Kay, heard from Cumbria MP Tim Farron; Gwynedd County Council Leader Dyfrig Siencyn and Nefyn Town Council leader Rhys Tudur.

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated pressures on rural housing across the UK, causing rapid house-price inflation and placing rural houses even further beyond the financial reach of coastal and agricultural communities.

Former Liberal Democrat party leader Tim Farron told the webinar: “We can’t deny the evidence of our eyes, that excessive second home ownership in a community kills the community. I’ve talked to a range of estate agents around Cumbria, the best guess is something like 60-65% on average to up to 80% of all house sales in the last 15 months have been to the second home market.

Farmers from Montgomeryshire and Farmers’ Union of Wales officials have met with local MP Craig Williams and UK Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands to reinforce the industry's concerns about the free trade deal with Australia. 

Speaking after the virtual meeting on Monday 19 July , FUW Montgomeryshire Livestock, Wool and Marts committee delegate Mark Williams said: “I thank both Craig Williams and Greg Hands for discussing our concerns around the free trade deal with Australia. It was a great opportunity for our members to reiterate our concerns very clearly.” 

Australian farms, Union officials highlighted, benefit from significant advantages in terms of economies of scale: The average farm size in Australia is 10,700 acres compared with an average Welsh farm size of 125 acres, while 65% of Australian cattle farms have between 100 and 400 head of cattle, and farms of over 5,400 head of cattle account for 30% of the country's beef cattle. This compares to an average Welsh herd size of around 30.

Farming has a key role to play in looking after the environment and combating climate change but the production of food must not be excluded from the conversation, says Pembrokeshire beef, sheep and arable farmer Jayne Richards.

Jayne, who farms with her parents Michael and Margaret and husband Ali at Jordanston Farm, St Mary’s Park, Jordanston, just outside of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, has no doubt that if it weren’t for small family farms up and down the country the environment would suffer. The aesthetic look of the Welsh countryside would change dramatically, with rural communities being lost. 

However, the family are clear that food production and the care of the environment both have a critical role to play and one can’t function without the other.

The 350 acre farm, which is in the Glastir scheme, is home to 400 breeding ewes and 140 beef cattle, as well as a small suckler herd. The family keep mostly Welsh half bred ewes and breed their own Texel rams and replacement ewes. They also keep some store lambs in the autumn and winter to finish on root crops. 

As a major event in the farming calendar leaves a gaping hole for social gatherings this week (RWAS), one volunteer led healthy minds organisation in rural Wales will introduce two world class extreme sport personalities to an on-line event to inspire the farming community.

Number 1 World Machine Shearing titleholder, Richard Jones from Glyndyfrdwy and world-class extreme endurance runner and TV presenter, Lowri Morgan joins experienced broadcaster Nic Parry at Rhug Estate to share the endurance, resilience and mental strength needed to achieve these physical challenges.

The Welsh on-line event, which begins at 8pm, this Wednesday 21 July is organised by Nerth Dy Ben*, a volunteer-run organisation that aims to give individuals a platform to share positive experiences, in Welsh, about living and working in rural Wales.

Farmers from Pembrokeshire have put the spotlight on industry concerns around the free trade deal with Australia and climate change when they met with local MP Stephen Crabb. Hosting the visit was Farmers’ Union of Wales Pembrokeshire County Vice chairman Gerwyn Williams, who farms at Upper Swmbarch, Letterston near Haverfordwest.

The farm extends to approximately 94 acres, with the majority of the land rented from Pembrokeshire County Council, and 3.5 acres owned. Upper Swmbarch is home to a 50 Suckler cow herd, made up of Limousin and British Blue cows. The calves are reared with some sold as stores, some fattened and some kept as replacements. Gerwyn Williams keeps a closed herd and uses AI. Tack sheep are kept on the land in the winter.  The land is mainly down to grass, but around 3 hectares of arable silage and 3 hectares of forage rape are grown each year to feed the livestock.

The farm has participated in the Glastir Small Grants scheme, which included planting new hedgerows in a number of locations across the farm and the holding has also previously participated in the Preseli ESA scheme, Tir Gofal and Glastir Entry.

Leading the discussions on the farm walk, Mr Williams said: “We are very concerned about the free trade deal with Australia. There will be major negative impacts for our farmers in Wales. It is absolutely essential that the UK Government ensures there are break clauses in the deal to allow for it to be reviewed. We need the UK Government to stand with the farming sector and help develop export opportunities for our farmers here at home.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) and FUW Insurance Services Ltd. are urging the farming community to carefully consider the risks on farms as figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) point to an increase in farm fatalities over the last year.

According to provisional data released by the HSE, agriculture, forestry and fishing  recorded 34 fatal injuries in 2020/21, an increase of 13 from the  21 fatalities recorded the previous year. The five-year average for fatal injuries in the sector now stands at  28.

Included in these fatalities were seven fatal deaths in Wales within agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2020/21.  The report highlights that, taking account of differing employment levels between sectors, the rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers is greatest in agriculture, forestry and fishing and waste and recycling.

It was with great sadness that the Farmers’ Union of Wales was informed of the death of Lord Elystan Morgan. Elystan Morgan's contribution has been significant in the context of Wales, the Welsh language, agriculture and, of course, Cardiganshire. As officials and members of the Union we are proud of this opportunity to pay tribute to one of the great political figures in Wales over the last half a century.

Naturally, we could take note of his Parliamentary career, whether as a Member of Parliament for Cardiganshire between 1966 and 1974 and his service in the House of Lords over a period of nearly forty years between 1981 and 2020. We could also mention his tireless work in leading the 1979 devolution campaign and his important contribution, quietly and effectively to the strengthening of the devolution settlement following the 1997 vote. In addition, we could also discuss his superb career in law and as a very respected Judge for a lengthy period of time. As a Union we are proud to note his sincere contribution to Wales, the countryside and his lifelong commitment to the Welsh language.

As a politician Elystan Morgan had an innate understanding and sympathy for the demands of agriculture and rural Wales which was an important part of his work as a Member of Parliament for his home county. He gave a similar commitment during his time in the House of Lords where he was willing to consistently defend the interests of the countryside and Wales. He was a regular attendee of the annual dinner held by the Union at the House of Lords and at the events held in the Senedd to mark the Union’s farmhouse breakfast week. These events celebrated the uniqueness of rural Wales whilst also raising awareness of the demands of agriculture among politicians. Elystan Morgan's presence ensured that the Union's messages were heard and he was a firm champion on the red benches.

Safety on farms and how farmers can protect themselves and their business will be under the spotlight at an upcoming webinar, hosted by FUW Insurance Services Ltd at the virtual Royal Welsh Show. The event, which is open to all, takes place on Wednesday 21 July at 10am via Zoom and will be hosted on the Royal Welsh Show event website.

Keynote speakers on the day include Tony Succamore,Sales and Operations Director of FUW Insurance Services Ltd; Georgina Davis, Business Development Manager (Midlands) at British Engineering Services; Health and Safety Executive representative Christopher Maher and Farm safety expert and instructor Brian Rees. Chairing the webinar is FUW Deputy President and FUW Insurance Services Ltd. board member Ian Rickman.

Farmers from Meirionnydd have raised critical concerns of the industry with Member of the Senedd, Ken Skates, at a recent farm visit with Farmers’ Union of Wales Meirionnydd County Chairman Edwin Jones and Union officials.

The event which was hosted by Mr Jones and his wife Eirian, at Ty Mawr, Carrog, Corwen, Denbighshire, provided an opportunity to see the farm, which stretches from the banks of the river Dee to approximately 1500 feet above sea level, and for members to highlight and discuss issues around climate change, future farm policies and the agricultural water pollution regulations. 

The typical family farm, which extends to 149 hectares and is mostly hill and upland, is home to 730 Welsh Mountain ewes and 190 shearlings. 

Edwin Jones was elected Meirionnydd FUW Branch Chair in June 2021 and is a former Assistant Headmaster at Ysgol Maes Garmon, Yr Wyddgrug. His wife Eirian is also a former Head of Welsh and Drama at the school. Edwin and Eirian have farmed at Tymawr since 2002, with Eirian being brought up at the farm. Both retired from their teaching posts in 2012.

A short drive from Dolgellau, Meirionnydd, just off the main road is Cae Coch farm, Rhydymain, home of well-known TV presenter and farming champion Alun Edwards. Driving up a short farm track, it is impossible not to notice how green it is here. 

The eye is drawn up to the surrounding hills, the trees envelope the interspersed small fields, none of which are bigger than 5 acres. The fields here are not square and there is a mosaic of them. Some are scattered with a modicum of animals - Welsh Black cattle and their calves are resting, chewing the cud; a few sheep are visible on the mountain ridges. 

It is obvious that this land is being looked after by someone. There are hay fields with flowers in them, buttercups and daisies. The land is not pushed here and there are docks, thistles and dandelions. The fields have hedges and stone walls as borders, and have been here since the middle ages. 

Moving up through the land, it’s sloping and north facing, shrub land or ffridd land as it's called here is followed by unimproved land that includes gorse. There is purple heather on a crested flat and then you get to the white mountain - where you find sedge grasses and the sheep graze in the summer. 

Wherever you look it feels like a combination of wild and managed land. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is looking forward to a busy virtual Royal Welsh Show week and is hosting a variety of webinars discussing rural housing, climate change, mental health and the future of digital connectivity for Wales.

Speaking ahead of the event, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “We had hoped to be able to be at the showground in person this year, like many others. The Royal Welsh show remains a pinnacle event in our farming calendar and whilst we can’t meet face to face, we are excited to discuss some of the most critical issues facing our industry virtually once again. I hope many of you will be able to join us for these events.”

In addition to the webinars, the Union is also launching a lobbying tool through its website, allowing members and the public to write to their elected representatives highlighting their grave concerns about the Free Trade Deal with Australia. 

Tackling the Rural Housing Crisis:

The FUW wrote to the Welsh Government twelve months ago calling for action to prevent an inevitable increase in pressure on rural housing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, since which the issue has become a reality and hit the national headlines. 

Pembrokeshire Farmers’ Union of Wales county officials recently met with their local Member of the Senedd, Paul Davies, at a farm visit hosted by organic dairy farmers Dai, Sharon and Llŷr Miles, at their farm Beudy Bach, Haverfordwest. The main concerns raised were the current Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations and bovine TB - issues which are making farming unsustainable for many in the county and across Wales.

The business was started by Dai and Sharron in 1997 when they moved to Pembrokeshire taking on the tenancy of Barnsley Farm, a 143 acres farm. At the time it was a stock/arable unit which they converted into an organic dairy unit starting with 33 cows and leased milk quota. 

In 2001 they rented a further 90 acres of pasture land and then in 2005 they rented the neighbouring farm within the same estate, Beudy Bach. In 2018 they had the opportunity to purchase Beudy Bach from the estate and installed a modern robotic milking system on the holding. Llyr joined the business after returning from Aberystwyth University where he studied agriculture. 

Nature, conservation and food production must and can go hand in hand, according to Montgomeryshire beef and sheep farmer Carwyn Jones. He farms at Ty Mawr, Dolanog in the Vyrnwy valley about 14 miles from Welshpool and 6 miles from lake Vyrnwy. The 160 acre beef and sheep farm has been in the family for many generations, with Carwyn taking over full management of the holding from his uncle in 2002. 

Describing the land he says: “Most of the land here is pretty steep. There isn’t much soil, about 2 inches of soil and 2 miles of rock. So I have to manage that carefully. We have a lot of woodland surrounding the farm and I also look after about 30 acres of our own woodland on the farm. There is such a great variety of bird species and wildlife around and I firmly believe that’s because of how this land is managed.” 

A champion hedgelayer, Carwyn has established over a mile of hedgerows alongside the farm on each side of the track and has recently planted over 600 new hedging plants. “All in all I look after about 4 miles of hedges on the farm land. I’ve always been a fan of hedges and trees. For me, I do what I do in terms of nature and conservation work for the love of doing it. I’m mad about hedges and the benefits it brings to the land and wildlife.” 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales says the common sense decision to prolong import limits on steel products should trigger somber reflection over the impact of trade deals that open UK markets up to cheap food imports.

The UK Government announced on Wednesday (30th June) that it would extend measures that defend the steel industry against cheap imports of certain types of steel, particularly from China.

The steel industry had described the original plan to remove tariffs as “utter madness”, warning that import surges would be devastating for the industry in the UK.

Referring to the trade deal recently agreed in principle with Australia and plans to sign similar deals with other countries and trading blocs, FUW President Glyn Roberts said “The phrase ‘utter madness’ also applies to moves that would open up our market to cheap food produced to lower standards.

“Such deals would be particularly devastating for rural areas where jobs relating to farming and agricultural supply chains make up a large proportion of the workforce and an invaluable contribution to our society and culture.”

Mr Roberts said that such trade deals also threatened the UK’s food security.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales Caernarfon Branch has raised the issue of livestock worrying and dog attacks with Aberconwy MP Robin Millar following an increase of incidents in recent weeks. Farmers who keep sheep on the Carneddau range in Caernarfonshire have lost close to 20 sheep in recent weeks due to attacks by dogs, the MP heard.

Henry Williams of Gwern Gof Isaf, Capel Curig has lost sheep due to dog attacks, as has Elfed Jackson from Braich Tŷ Du, Nant Ffrancon near Bethesda. 

Mr Jackson noted: “People just don’t realise the stress and heartache such incidents causes us. And even worse is the attitude of many dog owners who are in denial that their dog would do such a thing. I’ve returned a couple of dogs to their owners recently and just about managed to get a “sorry” from them. They need to understand the full implications of their dog not being under control when walking on the open mountains like we have here.”

Henry Williams added: “It breaks our hearts to have to see the result of an attack by dogs. It’s bad enough when one or two have suffered, but when it gets into double figures it’s even worse. Added to that stress is then the need to carry the carcasses down from the mountain by hand, which is no easy task when you have the local authority insisting that they are cleared immediately. I’m not sure if they realise what they are actually asking us to do.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has appointed a new County Executive Officer and Deputy County Executive Officer to serve the members in the the counties of Gwent and Glamorgan.

Sharon Pritchard joins the team as County Executive Officer, bringing with her a significant background in agriculture having been involved on the family farm in Talgarth, Brecon and she also has over twenty years of experience working with McCartneys in Brecon and Builth.

Helen Thomas, who has been appointed as Deputy County Executive Officer, has been a loyal and respected part of the Gwent FUW team for 14 years and has also worked with members in Glamorgan in her previous role as an administrative assistant with the Union.

Speaking about the appointments, FUW Group Managing Director Guto Bebb said: “We have made two excellent appointments to serve members in the counties of Gwent and Glamorgan. Both Sharon and Helen come with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the agriculture sector and I have no doubt that members in both counties will be well looked after by the new team.”

Dylasau Uchaf, a National Trust tenant farm, is home to the Roberts family. Glyn and his daughter Beca keep a watchful eye on the land and livestock here in the Eidda valley, hidden away between the upper Conwy and the Machno. The sheep and beef farm is about 4 miles from Betws y Coed and 3 miles from Ysbyty Ifan. 

A lot has changed up here in the last 5 years, says Glyn Roberts, who takes his responsibility of producing food and looking after the land seriously. Working with Bangor University and Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) a carbon audit was carried out on the farm highlighting where the business is doing well and where there is room for improvement when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. 

Using the result of the carbon audit the family hopes to be in a better position to highlight areas of improvements and lower their carbon footprint by increasing efficiency, lowering feed cost and increasing growth rate, less days to slaughter, reduced burden of disease, reducing the use of fertilizer by knowing the farm's needs and also using less fuel, are all things that are now being taken into consideration.

Pembrokeshire husband and wife team Jeff and Sarah Wheeler, who farm at Clyngwyn, Efailwen, Clynderwen, feel the current Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations are going to make their business unviable and are asking the Welsh Government to take a hard look at what they’re asking the industry to do. The third generation to farm here, the couple milk150 cows on a spring calving system, looking after 195 acres which is down to grass land (of which 35 acres is rented), plus 50 acres of woodland. 

Under current NVZ regulations in other UK and EU Nations and previous regulations in Wales, farmers with more than 80% of their holding designated as grassland had the ability to apply for a derogation to increase the annual livestock manure Nitrate whole farm limit from 170kg N per ha to 250kg N per ha.

Despite the same option being included in Welsh Government’s draft Water Resources regulations published in 2020, it was omitted from the regulations before being laid in front of the Senedd in 2021 without any form of warning or explanation. 

Jeff says: “We’ve got enough storage for slurry but the stocking rates will hit us badly. They’ve brought in the nitrate limit, which wasn’t in the initial 'draft regulation, it came out of the blue. Any other country with such regulations has a derogation on the nitrate limit. If you're 80% down to grassland, which we are, you can keep more stock in other countries. Why is that not the case here now?”

A farming family from North Wales who are leading the way in looking after the environment and producing food, having recently undertaken extensive peatland restoration work on their farm in conjunction with Snowdonia National Park Authority and the Welsh Peatlands SMS project to develop the first Peatland Code project in Wales. 

The Roberts family, who have farmed at Pennant Farm, Llanymawddwy for several generations, keep beef and sheep, mainly hill ewes and some crossbreeds. A small suckler herd and crossbred ewes are also kept on the lowland and the family have diversified into holiday lets as well. There is a strong sense of responsibility when it comes to looking after the environment and creating biodiverse habitats, as well as producing food.

Taking their environmental ambitions forward, Farmers’ Union of Wales members Lisa and Sion Roberts, set in motion restoration works to re-profile and block the extensive complexes of hags and gullies across the Bwlch y Groes site, which were carried out by experienced peatland contractors at the end of the 2020 and start of 2021. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has highlighted the need for Members of Parliament to do all they can to fully scrutinise and have a say on an UK-Australia trade deal, after Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday agreed the broad terms of a deal.

“We have grave concerns that we could end up with a deal that’s catastrophic for animal welfare, the environment, our family farms and our food security - and that it will be set in stone,” said FUW President Glyn Roberts.

Mr Roberts said that in the past few days Boris Johnson had come under significant pressure from the world’s most powerful leaders because he had ignored all the warnings about the consequences of a deal he struck with the EU - the Northern Ireland Protocol. 

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the decision of the  Senedd to review the current Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations, which are currently being phased in and are set to cost the industry millions.

A joint opposition party motion called for a Senedd committee to hold an "urgent" review of the new regulations and the call for a review was passed by 58 votes to nil on Wednesday, 9 June.

Responding to the news, FUW Vice President Dai Miles said: “We are pleased to see that a robust discussion in the Senedd has led to all Welsh Senedd members backing a review into the regulations as they currently stand.

Farmers’ Union of Wales members from Denbighshire, Flintshire and Meirionnydd have outlined their concerns and objections to the free trade agreement with Australia at a recent meeting with Clwyd West MP David Jones, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes and Vale of Clwyd MP James Davies.

Speaking after the meeting FUW Denbigh and Flint county executive officer Mari Dafydd Jones said: “We made it very clear in our meeting with the MPs that trade deals lock the current and future governments into them, and as such need time and thorough scrutiny. 

“Under no circumstances should they be rushed, but that is what is happening here, on top of which the UK Parliament will not be able to scrutinise and have a final say on a deal in the way other democratic nations do.”

Farmers’ Union of Wales members from Pembrokeshire have outlined their concerns and objections to the free trade agreement with Australia at a recent meeting with their local MP Stephen Crabb.

Speaking after the meeting FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle said: “We made it very clear in our meetings with Stephen Crabb that trade deals lock the current and future governments into them, and as such need time and thorough scrutiny. 

“Under no circumstances should they be rushed, but that is what is happening here, on top of which the UK Parliament will not be able to scrutinise and have a final say on a deal in the way other democratic nations do.”

Mrs Voyle said the FUW had therefore asked him to oppose such a trade agreement and do all that he could to ensure detailed scrutiny takes place.

Farmers’ Union of Wales members from Anglesey have outlined their concerns and objections to the free trade agreement with Australia at a recent meeting with their local MP Virginia Crosbie and UK Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands.

Speaking after the meeting FUW Anglesey County Executive Officer Alaw Jones said: “We made it very clear in our meeting with Virginia Crosbie and Greg Hands that trade deals lock the current and future governments into them, and as such need time and thorough scrutiny. 

“Under no circumstances should they be rushed, but that is what is happening here, on top of which the UK Parliament will not be able to scrutinise and have a final say on a deal in the way other democratic nations do.”

Ms Jones said the FUW had therefore asked them to do all they can to oppose such a trade agreement and ensure detailed scrutiny takes place.

“The extreme problems we are seeing in Northern Ireland because of the protocol show what happens when politicians do not listen to stark warnings and rush things through in order to meet a self imposed timetable, but that’s exactly what’s happening with regard to the Australia deal. 

Farmers’ Union of Wales members from Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire have outlined their concerns and objections to the free trade agreement with Australia at a recent meeting with their local MP Simon Hart. The meeting was hosted jointly with NFU Cymru via Zoom.

Speaking after the meeting FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Philip Jones said: “We made it very clear in our meeting with Simon Hart MP that trade deals lock the current and future governments into them, and as such need time and thorough scrutiny. 

“Under no circumstances should they be rushed, but that is what is happening here, on top of which the UK Parliament will not be able to scrutinise and have a final say on a deal in the way other democratic nations do.”

Mr Jones said the FUW had therefore asked him to do all he can to oppose such a trade agreement and ensure detailed scrutiny takes place.