Farming

Deputy Minister meets Future Farmers of Wales

Published

10 years ago

April 1, 2015

DEPUTY MINISTER for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans, met with representatives from Future Farmers of Wales to discuss opportunities for young farmers to progress in the industry.

Future Farmers of Wales is a group of proven practical young farmers, prepared to discuss and express views, concerns and ideas for the future of farming and the rural community in Wales.

The Deputy Minister said: “New lifeblood and fresh ideas are essential for Welsh agriculture to meet the challenges of an everchanging industry, and young people are the key drivers of the change we need if we are to deliver a resilient, sustainable and profitable farming industry for Wales.

Ms Evans continued: “I welcome the contribution that the Future Farmers of Wales can make to help us address this challenge and am grateful for the opportunity to discuss this with them. I am looking forward to hearing their experiences of the sector to date, and hearing any suggestions they might have to help us find innovative ways of supporting mobility within the industry.”

Just last week the Deputy Minister announced a package of support to Wales Young Farmers Clubs to help them continue their important work in helping to develop our future farmers and farming leaders.

The Welsh Government is also working closely with the Young Entrants Support Scheme (YESS) Stakeholder Group to identify appropriate mechanisms of support for young and new entrants through the new Wales Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020.

The group recently met to discuss Malcolm Thomas’ report into the Next Generation into Farming, which makes a number of key recommendations to encourage mobility within the farming industry. The Deputy Minister will make an announcement on next steps in the summer.

The Deputy Minister is due to meet Joy Smith, the new Chairman of Future Farmers of Wales, and Rhys Lougher, South Wales Ambassador, at Rhys’ Ty Tanglwyst Farm in Bridgend where she will take a short tour of the dairy facility before meeting them and other representatives from the organisation.

The current President of Future Farmers of Wales is Professor Wynne Jones, who recently completed a review of Learning Delivered by Further Education Colleges and the Relevance of that Delivery in Supporting Farm Businesses in Wales. Professor Jones’ report makes a number of clear and helpful recommendations on the potential opportunities for working together and for relationships that could be developed between colleges and the farming industry.

Farming

Lucky escape for cows as livestock trailer overturns on M4

Published

4 days 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

4 days 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

5 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.”