Farming
Committed to the future, remembering history
THE FARMERS’ UNION OF WALES celebrated its 60th anniversary on Tuesday, December 8 with a trip down memory lane. Sharing memories and comparing notes on the state of the industry were Roy and Nerys Edwards and their four sons, of Groesasgwrn, Llangynderyn, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire and Mr T Llew Jones MBE, a founder member of the union in 1955. The couple joined the FUW in May 2015 – making them the newest and one of the ‘youngest’ FUW members in the founder county.
Roy was the winner of Fferm Factor for the year 2014 and Nerys’ time is split between being actively involved in the running of the home farm, helping her husband and keeping a successful occasion cake business ‘Cacennau Moethus’. The informal visit gave the couple and FUW president Glyn Roberts, who also attended the visit, the chance to explore the different views of those who were actively involved in the setup of the FUW 60 years ago and those who have just joined the organisation.
“Farming has changed dramatically over the last 60 years and it was interesting to hear about the challenges the farming community faced in 1955 and how these compare to the struggles but also opportunities the current generation of farmers deal with,” said FUW president Glyn Roberts. Many stories were shared over cups of tea and wonderful homemade cake and Glyn Roberts particularly enjoyed looking through old photographs with Llew Jones. He said,” It was inspiring to hear the stories of how the FUW was founded back in 1955 – and how determined our Welsh ancestors were to fight for Welsh farming and the small family farm.” The evening celebration at the Halliwell Centre in Carmarthen was well attended by FUW staff old and new and many members.
Guest speaker the Rt Hon. the Lord Morris of Aberavon KG QC, who was actively involved with the formation of the FUW as the union’s legal adviser and deputy general secretary between 1956 and 1958, talked about how the FUW was formed and reminded guests that the union was born out of the frustration felt by Welsh farmers, when their needs and voices were not being heard by the Westminster Parliament. It was down to their dream of having a Welsh farming union he said and the tenacity of these Welsh entrepreneurs that the FUW has been given the official right by the Government to represent and speak on behalf of Welsh farmers and the union has done so at the highest level – at the National Assembly, Whitehall and Brussels ever since. Speaking at the dinner, union president Glyn Roberts added that, “We are here today because of the vision of the founder members who have worked so hard. “It is an overwhelming honour to stand in front of you as president of this union, but that honour also has great responsibilities and a duty, not only to those that have fought so hard in the past, but also to those that will take over from us in future.”
The president further added that Shakespeare once said that Owain Glyndwr was not like most men, he had a vision. We can proudly say the same about the pioneers of the FUW. Their vision was to have an independent voice for Welsh agriculture; an union that spoke for them, and which had the interest of Welsh farmers at its core. “I have no doubt in my mind that all of us will do everything we can to honour those founding members and ensure that their vision of a strong voice for the industry remains at the core of the FUW’s principles.” Carmarthen county executive officer David Waters, who was heavily involved in organising the evening function, said “I would like to thank all the staff for helping to organise such an enjoyable and successful dinner. “We also held a raffle to raise money for the British Heart Foundation Cymru and I am very pleased to say that we have raised £1,600 for the cause.”
Farming
Welsh Government could overturn Ceredigion cattle breeder’s house plans
A CEREDIGION councillor-backed scheme by one of the top breeders of Limousin cattle in the UK to build a home near Lampeter could be overturned following a call for it to be decided by Welsh Government, planners heard.
At the October meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s development management committee, the application, by Mr and Mrs Dylan Davies for a four-bedroom rural enterprise workers’ dwelling at Blaenffynnon, Llanwnnen, Lampeter, where they run a calving and cattle rearing business, was backed despite an officer recommendation for refusal.
One of the issues in the report for members was the financial test of whether the scheme was affordable, based on an estimate the building would cost some £292,000 to construct; at a 25-year mortgage amounting to £20,400 a year.
The size of the proposed building – which the applicants say include a need to entertain and occasionally accommodate clients – was also given as a reason for failing the TAN6 policy test, being larger than affordable housing guidance, at 202 square metres rather than a maximum of 136.
Members have previously heard the applicant breeds high-value show cattle for embryo transplanting at the well-established business, with one bull alone selling for £32,000 last year.
It had previously been recommended for refusal at the September meeting, but was deferred for a ‘cooling-off’ period to seek further details along with potential changes to the size of the scheme.
At the October meeting, members backed approval despite officers saying the size proposed could actually include a two-person bungalow in addition to the normal maximal ‘affordable’ size.
At the start of the November meeting, members heard a request for the scheme to be ‘called-in’ for Welsh Government final decision had been made, meaning Ceredigion planners’ approval could potentially be overturned if the ‘call-in’ is agreed.
Farming
Welsh Government pressed on impact of new farming tax
THE Welsh Government have been urged to clarify how many farms in Wales will be affected by the Family Farm Tax.
The calls come after farming unions rebuked claims from the UK Labour Government and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens that only a minority of farmers will be affected by the new inheritance tax rules.
The UK Labour Government has come under heavy criticism following the announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that farmers would have to pay a 20% tax on farms worth more than £1m.
When questioned on Sunday Politics about the potential impact of the new tax laws on Welsh Farmers, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens claimed that “Three quarters of farmers will be unaffected”.
The treasury has yet to publish an estimate around the impact that the new tax laws will have on Welsh farms.
Both the FUW and NFU Cymru have expressed their concerns at the changes made by the UK Government, stating that it will cause “lasting damage to Welsh farming.”
The Welsh Lib Dems have now called on the Welsh Government to clarify how many farms in Wales will be impacted by the new Family Farm Tax rules.
Party leader Jane Dodds MS has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies to express her concern over the “untold damage that farming communities throughout Wales will face as a consequence of the UK Government’s most recent budget”.
In the same letter, Jane Dodds MS pressed Mr Irranca-Davies to confirm how many Welsh farms will be affected by the new inheritance laws.
“We cannot afford to leave our farming communities in the dark when it comes to the impact of this potentially devasting new tax law” said Jane Dodds MS.
Both our farmers and the Welsh Public deserve to know the truth that lies behind Labour’s claims that only a small amount of farmers will be impacted by the Family Farm Tax. Claims that, I should add, have already been disputed by both NFU Cymru and the FUW.
The uncertainty surrounding these new inheritance laws will place more unnecessary pressure on farmers across Wales, many of whom are already struggling under a cloud of financial pressures.”
Farming
Pembrokeshire farmer’s award for outstanding service to Welsh dairy industry
DAIRY farmer, Stephen James, from Gelliolau farm in Clunderwen, Pemborkeshire has been presented the FUW Outstanding Service to the Welsh Dairy Industry award at the Welsh Dairy Show 2024 in Carmarthen.
Presenting Stephen with the award will be FUW President Ian Rickman during the Welsh Dairy Show held at the United Counties Showground in Nantyci, Carmarthen on Tuesday 22 October 2024.
Ian Rickman, FUW President said: “The judging panel were delighted with the nominations this year, but Stephen’s diligent and relentless work for over 20 years representing the industry in a public role on the issue of Bovine TB in particular placed him on top.
“A worthy winner, Stephen has used his own experience of dealing with TB on his own farm business, having been in and out of restrictions for over a quarter of a century, to highlight the main issues that affect Welsh farmers, publicly.”
Stephen is Chairman of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework a position he has held since July 2018. As Chairman, working closely with Wales’ Chief Veterinary Officer, Stephen works to make improvements in standards of animal health and welfare across Wales.
He has also been a leading figure in representing the concerns of Welsh farming to the Government. As an industry representative on the Welsh Government TB programme board, he has undertaken countless bilingual media interviews to local, national and international broadcasters. He highlights the impact the disease has on farming families and the need for the Welsh Government to implement a Comprehensive TB Eradication Strategy.
On winning the award, Stephen James said: “Receiving this award is a huge privilege. It was quite a shock to hear the news. I am extremely grateful to receive the award, especially at an event that is so close to my heart and is so important to the milk sector in Wales. Thank you so much for the honour.”
Stephen James has held a wide range of positions within NFU Cymru from Local Branch Chairman to President (2014 – 2018). He has worked on a number of significant policy areas including the Common Agricultural Policy Reform and Brexit, dairy issues and an influential figure during the trying times of the 2012 milk crisis. Stephen, alongside other UK farming union leaders, addressed the July 2012 dairy farmers Westminster Hall Rally.
Passionate about supporting the next generation of farmers, Stephen shared the responsibility for his farm business at Gelliolau to his son, Daniel, at a young age. He has been heavily involved with the Wales Young Farmers, both locally and nationally holding a number of positions including Pembrokeshire County Chairman, Pembrokeshire County President and Wales YFC Council member.
A long standing member of First Milk and a Director and past Chairman of Clynderwen and Cardiganshire Farmers, he truly believes in the values and principles of co-operative organisations.
He is former President of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, a President and active Board Member of Clunderwen Show Society, a past Chair of Clunderwen Community Council and member and past Chairman of Narberth Grassland Society. Stephen James is also a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
Ian Rickman concluded: “Stephen James has truly made an outstanding contribution to the Welsh Dairy Industry. We are delighted to present him with this FUW award in recognition of the years of work he has carried out on behalf of Welsh farmers. On behalf of the FUW, I congratulate and thank Stephen for his work.”
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