Farming

Deputy Minister eyes bright future for Welsh farming

Published

10 years ago

November 5, 2015

Young farmers’ opinions should be heard: Rebecca Evans AM

DEPUTY MINISTER for Farming and Food, Rebecca Evans visited Harper Adams University to see the educational and research facilities and the work being carried out at the university for the benefit of the farming and food sectors.

Harper Adams has strong links with the farming industry in Wales and attracts a large number of Welsh students each year so has a large bearing on the next generation of Welsh farmers.

During the visit the Deputy Minister met with a number of Welsh students studying at the university who are likely to follow careers in the Welsh farming and food sectors when they graduate.

Rebecca Evans said: “We are working with the industry to achieve our shared vision for the future of agriculture in Wales. There is an excellent opportunity for all parties to help, including our young farmers. I want to ensure that the opinions of young farmers in Wales are heard and that they play an active part in taking the industry forward.

“That’s why it is important to be able to speak to the next generation of Welsh farmer at institutions like Harper Adams to understand their ambitions and how government can help support them.”

Earlier in the day the Deputy Minister visited SkillsCymru, an interactive careers and skills event in Llandudno. She visited the stand shared by Welsh Government Food Division and Visit Wales to promote further education and career opportunities within both industries.

“It is our aim to raise Wales’ profile as a high quality food tourism destination as challenged by the 2015 – 2020 Food Tourism Action Plan,” said the Deputy Minister.

“As one of Wales’s largest business sectors the Welsh Food and Drink Industry employs over 222,400 people within the whole food and drink supply chain.

“The Action Plan recognises the difficulty within the industry to attract and retain a skilled workforce. Therefore, one of the key themes of the Action Plan relates to Education, Skills and Training and tasks the Food Board with raising the profile of food industry careers. Events like SkillsCymru are essential to ensure we meet this challenge.”

Farming

Lucky escape for cows as livestock trailer overturns on M4

Published

3 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

3 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

4 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.”