Farming

Ceredigion farmers raise concerns with local AMs

Published

10 years ago

January 19, 2015

Met Ceredigion farmers: local AM Simon Thomas

MILK price volatility, ongoing uncertainty around the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the future shape of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for Wales were discussed when Ceredigion NFU Cymru officeholders met with local politicians, Elin Jones AM and Simon Thomas AM, at an on-farm meeting in Tynygraig at the end of 2014. Ceredigion NFU Cymru County Chairman Wyn Evans said, “2014 has been a difficult year for the agricultural industry in the county with the impacts of price volatility being felt across all the main commodity sectors, most recently for our dairy farmers. This is having a knock-on effect to the confidence of farmers making the necessary investments in their businesses to build for the future.”

Mr Evans continued, “This market volatility only serves to illustrate the importance of the Single Farm Payment to the bottom line of our farm businesses. This has been significantly reduced in 2014 however, primarily as a result of the Welsh Government’s pillar transfer decision. “This decision has been made and cannot be reversed; our focus now must be on ensuring that support from the new RDP in Wales is easily accessible to all farmers.

The RDP Wales will have a budget of nearly £1billion for the next six years and Welsh Government must deliver significant funds back to farmers and help ensure that every farmer has the opportunity to access this resource to improve the viability of our farming enterprises.” Mr Evans added, “There’s also a lot of uncertainty now around the implementation of the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in Wales in the wake of the Welsh Government’s recent decision to quash the regulations that defined the BPS regions and payment rates which were meant to come into effect in 2015.

We now wait for the Welsh Government to provide viable alternative proposals and I sincerely hope that a solution can be found that minimises disruption, as much as possible, in the move from historic to area based payments.” Mr Evans concluded, “We’re grateful to our local Assembly Members for coming out on-farm to meet with us and to hear our concerns. The agricultural industry forms the backbone of the rural economy and sustains our local communities. As farmers we urge Elin Jones and Simon Thomas and their fellow Assembly Members in Cardiff Bay to hold the Welsh Government to account and to ensure that they deliver policies that can help support farming and food production here in Ceredigion and throughout the rest of Wales.”

Farming

Lucky escape for cows as livestock trailer overturns on M4

Published

17 hours ago

May 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THREE cows had a lucky escape on Monday morning (May 12) after the livestock trailer they were travelling in overturned on the M4 near Pont Abraham.

The incident took place at around 10:38am on the westbound carriageway and involved a pick-up truck towing a livestock box, which flipped onto its side.

Crews from Ammanford and Llanelli fire stations were called to the scene and worked to make the area safe. The animals were successfully transferred into a replacement trailer that was brought in to recover them.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the cows were unharmed in the incident. The fire crews left the scene at 11:27am.

The overturned trailer caused temporary disruption to traffic while the road was cleared.

Photo caption:

Lucky escape: Fire crews attended the overturned livestock trailer near Pont Abraham on Monday morning (Pic: MWWFRS)

Crime

Llangadog man charged over livestock theft near Llandysul

Published

18 hours ago

May 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A LLANGADOG man has been charged in connection with the theft of dozens of sheep from a farm near Llandysul.

Hywel Williams, aged 40, was arrested on March 25 following a report that between 70 and 75 lambing ewes had been stolen from the Rhydlewis area earlier that month.

Following a detailed investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team, Williams was formally charged with theft on May 10.

He is due to appear at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing on Wednesday, May 28.

Sergeant Paul Roberts of the Rural Crime Team said: “The arrest and charge of Hywel Williams demonstrates to our farming communities that all allegations of livestock theft will be fully investigated.

“Legal proceedings are now underway, and it is important that the case is allowed to progress without further public commentary.”

Livestock theft remains a serious issue for rural communities, and Dyfed-Powys Police continues to urge anyone with information relating to rural crime to come forward.

Farming

Welsh farming’s challenges discussed with Shadow Cabinet Secretary

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

EARLIER this week, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) met with Welsh Conservatives Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Education and Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS to discuss the changes and challenges facing Welsh agriculture.

The meeting followed the announcement earlier this month that the Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member, had been reappointed as the party’s Rural Affairs spokesperson, having previously held the portfolio between 2021 and 2024.

With a year to go until the Senedd elections, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss a range of issues facing Welsh agriculture, including the continued impact of bovine TB, the implementation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zone regulations, and the future of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which is due to be announced later this year.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the ongoing concerns over the UK Government’s changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) outlined in the Autumn Budget.

The FUW’s own analysis suggests as many as 48% of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) recipients in Wales could be affected by the changes,with the union warning the changes could have devastating impact on family farms and food production.

Commenting following the meeting, FUW President, Ian Rickman said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet Samuel in the Senedd, and congratulate him on his re-appointment to the Rural Affairs portfolio. Through his farming background, Sam has an in-depth understanding of the sector and the many issues we face, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with him over the coming months.

“At a time when Welsh farmers are facing a perfect storm of changes and challenges, the meeting provided a useful meeting to discuss many of these aspects further – including the NVZs, SFS, and the dark shadow bovine TB continues to cast over the Welsh farming sector.”

Commenting, Samuel Kurtz MS added: “Our farmers are the backbone of our communities. They don’t just produce our food, they support our rural economy, uphold Welsh culture, and care for our countryside. I will always stand up for farmers across Wales and continue to fight for a future in which agriculture can thrive.

“I have been consistent that farming needs a friend, and I will continue to be that friend to farming in Wales.”