Farming
UAC yn rhoi’r pwyslais ar y diwydiant llaeth cyn Sioe Laeth Cymru


(Chwith i’r dde): Michael Eavis, Francisca Harris a Swyddog Gweithredol UAC Sir Gaerfyrddin David Waters yn mwynhau’r ymweliad fferm
Diwrnod cyn Sioe Laeth Cymru (Llun Hydref 24) bu sylw Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru ar y diwydiant llaeth yn ystod ymweliad fferm sy’n gartref i Daioni Organic.
Roedd nifer fawr o aelodau a swyddogion yr Undeb yn bresennol ar fferm Ffosyficer, Boncath, Sir Benfro yn ogystal â Mr Michael Eavis o fferm Worthy, sy’n fwy adnabyddus fel sylfaenydd a threfnydd Gŵyl Glastonbury.
Mae Laurence wedi bod yn ffermwr llaeth ers dros 40 o flynyddoedd, ac ef sy’n gyfrifol am lwyddiant ysgubol Daioni.
Ers cymryd awenau fferm Ffosyficer wrth ei dad ym 1970, yn ogystal â bod wrth wraidd y busnes Daioni, mae Laurence wedi ymestyn y fferm deuluol o 150 erw i ymhell dros 3,000 erw o dir ffrwythlon.
Newidiodd y fferm i gynhyrchu’n organig ym 1999 ac ers hynny, mae Laurence a’r tîm wedi cynyddu’r cynnyrch llaeth a arweiniodd at lansio’r brand Daioni a chyfres o gynhyrchion sy’n cael eu gwerthu yn rhyngwladol.
Yn 2008, cafodd llaeth blas Daioni ei allforio dramor am y tro cyntaf a bellach yn cael ei werthu mewn allfeydd ar draws y byd yn ogystal siopau bach a phrif archfarchnadoedd y DU.
Hefyd, yn 2012, Daioni oedd y cwmni llaeth Prydeinig cyntaf i ennill statws organig yn Tsieina ac yn 2014 agorwyd swyddfa yn Hong Kong i ganolbwyntio ar werthiant Pasiffig Asia. Bellach mae allforion yn gyfrifol am 15% o drosiant y busnes.
Y teulu Harris sy’n berchen y busnes teuluol yn gyfan gwbl bellach ac yn cyflogi oddeutu ugain o bobl leol ac mae’n parhau i fynd o nerth i nerth.
Enillodd Mr Harris wobr gwasanaeth neilltuol i ddiwydiant llaeth Cymreig UAC/HSBC llynedd, ac wrth siarad yn yr ymweliad fferm, dywedodd: “Rydym i gyd yn hynod o falch cael croesawu Michael Eavis i Ffosyficer. Dyma unigolyn sydd wedi cynyddu’r fferm laeth, a medrwn ni gyd ddysgu o’i frwdfrydedd a’i rhagwelediad yn denu’r rhai sy’n byw yn y trefi i hyfrydwch Fferm Worthy. Mae’n hollbwysig ceisio rhoi’r bobl hyn ar ben y ffordd ynghylch y materion sy’n wynebu ffermwyr llaeth ar hyn o bryd.”
Dywedodd Dirprwy Lywydd UAC Brian Thomas wrth y rhai oedd yn bresennol bod “Ein diwydiant llaeth wedi dioddef yn ofnadwy oherwydd prisiau isel dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae nifer o gynhyrchwyr wedi gweld y siec laeth yn haneru ac yn gorfod delio gyda chytundebau annheg. Y gwirionedd yw bydd ein cynhyrchwyr llaeth yn gorfod delio gyda phrisiau anwadal yn y dyfodol.
“Tra bod yna ychydig o gynnydd ym mhrisiau wedi digwydd dros y misoedd diwethaf, ac mae’n rhaid croesawu’r rhain, ni fyddwn yn gweld derbyn y pris llawn am sbel eto yn y dyfodol oherwydd yr anghydbwysedd rhwng cyflenwad a galw parhaol byd-eang.”
Hefyd, dywedodd Mr Thomas wrth y rhai oedd yn bresennol y byddai manteisio ar farchnadoedd newydd yn rhan hanfodol ar gyfer y sector laeth yn dilyn Brexit a bod hi’n hanfodol bod y prisiau a delir i ffermwyr yn galluogi buddsoddiad ac arloesedd fel y gallwn fod yn gystadleuol yn fyd-eang.
“Tra bod prisiau a materion cyflenwad a galw yn gyfredol, mae ein sector llaeth hefyd yn wynebu dau fater hollbwysig arall.
“Ar hyn o bryd mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgynghori ar yr adolygiad pedair blynedd o Barthau Perygl Nitradau (NVZ), a gall y canlyniad olygu goblygiadau ariannol i’r rhai hynny sy’n byw oddi fewn i’r ardaloedd dynodedig.
“Rydym wedi bod yn rhan o adolygiad y NVZ ac wedi cyflwyno sylwadau llwyddiannus ar nifer o ddynodiadau, a arweiniodd at gael eu tynnu oddi ar y dewis o ardaloedd ar wahân yn yr ymgynghoriad.
“Ond, mae nifer y dynodiadau newydd arfaethedig yn parhau i fod yn achosi pryder ac rydym yn parhau i ailadrodd yr effeithiau gweithredol ac ariannol y byddai’r dynodiadau yn golygu i ffermydd sy’n byw o fewn ardal NVZ.”
O ystyried costau o’r fath, pwysleisiodd Mr Thomas bod rhaid cael cyfiawnhad llawn ar gyfer unrhyw gynnydd arfaethedig yn y dynodiad ac mi anogodd aelodau UAC i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn gweithio gyda’u swyddfa sirol lleol a chyflwyno ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad.
Wrth gyfeirio at y mater o TB mewn gwartheg, dywedodd Mr Thomas: “Mae TB mewn gwartheg yn parhau i achosi problem sylweddol yma yn Sir Benfro. Wythnos diwethaf roeddem yn croesawu cyhoeddiad Llywodraeth Cymru ei bod nhw am ystyried dull o brofi a difa moch daear fel cam bach i’r cyfeiriad cywir, ond bydd nifer o ffermwyr yn poeni am oblygiadau rhannu Cymru’n rhanbarthau TB.
Ychwanegodd y byddai targedi moch daear heintus yn gam i’w groesawu, ond mae’n siomedig bod cynifer o flynyddoedd wedi mynd heibio bellach cyn bod synnwyr cyffredin yn ennill y dydd wedi i’r Llywodraeth flaenorol roi’r gorau i’r cynllun cynhwysfawr gwreiddiol i ymdrin â’r clefyd mewn bywyd gwyllt.”
“Rwyf am fod yn glir ar un peth serch hynny – ni allwn osod unrhyw faich ariannol na gweinyddol pellach ar y diwydiant. Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddyletswydd foesol i ariannu’r camau nesaf – o ystyried y miliynau o bunnoedd sydd wedi ei wastraffu ar raglen frechu moch daear aneffeithiol, ” ychwanegodd y Dirprwy Lywydd.
Farming
Welsh Conservatives demand Senedd vote on Sustainable Farming Scheme

Call for democratic legitimacy as farming unions back scrutiny
THE WELSH Conservatives have called for a final, binding vote in the Senedd on the Welsh Government’s proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), warning that the plan could damage the rural economy and undermine confidence among farmers.
Ahead of a scheduled Senedd debate next Wednesday (July 16), Shadow Secretary for Economy, Energy and Rural Affairs Samuel Kurtz MS said the Labour-led scheme must be put to a vote before implementation.
He said: “Agriculture is vital to the Welsh economy, culture and language, and farmers need clear answers to plan for their future, their livelihoods, and their communities.
“It’s only right that the Welsh Labour Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme is put to a final Senedd vote, to ensure democratic legitimacy and the confidence of the agricultural sector.”
The Welsh Conservatives claim the original plans would have led to the loss of 5,500 farm jobs, a reduction of more than 120,000 livestock, and a £200 million hit to the Welsh economy. They also described the tree-planting and biodiversity targets as “unrealistic.”
Figures highlighted by the party show that farming employs nearly 50,000 people directly, with 230,000 jobs supported across the wider food and drink sector. The industry is worth £2.2 billion annually, with the food sector valued at £9.3 billion.
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones added his support for a Senedd vote, saying: “Welsh farming feeds the nation, cares for over 80% of the land area, and supports our rural communities, language and culture.
“For every £1 of public money invested through the BPS, £9 is returned to the Welsh economy. With 43% of farmers speaking Welsh, our farming families also play a crucial role in underpinning our language and rural society.
“The SFS is the biggest change in farm support for a generation. It is vital the Senedd has the chance to scrutinise it properly.”
FUW president Ian Rickman echoed those sentiments: “The Sustainable Farming Scheme marks a generational milestone for Welsh agriculture. We welcome this debate and are pleased the Senedd is being used to scrutinise such important changes.”
The motion due to be debated reads:
“To propose that the Senedd: Recognises the importance of agriculture to the Welsh economy, culture, language, environment, and rural communities.
Calls on the Welsh Government to bring forward a final, binding vote in the Senedd on its proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme, prior to its implementation, to ensure democratic legitimacy and the confidence of the agricultural sector.”
The debate is expected to begin at 6:30pm on Wednesday (July 16) and will be broadcast online.
Farming
The Princess Royal to visit the Royal Welsh Show 2025

THE PRINCSS ROYAL will be visiting this year’s Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd on the first day, Monday, July 21.
It will be her seventh visit to the four-day show, having first attended in 1981. Her most recent visit was in 2022 and her return reflects her ongoing support for agriculture and rural life.
The Princess Royal will tour showground after attending the annual meeting of The Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, of which she is president. The meeting is being held at the show.
“We are absolutely thrilled that The Princess Royal will be joining us at this year’s Royal Welsh Show,” said Aled Rhys Jones, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive. “Her Royal Highness has long been a passionate advocate for agriculture and rural communities.
“We look forward to sharing with her the many highlights of this year’s event, including the exciting innovations and developments that have taken place since her last visit.”
The show remains one of the largest and most prestigious agricultural events in Europe, celebrating and showcasing the best of Welsh farming, food and rural culture.
For more information about the show, visit: www.rwas.wales .
Picture caption:
The Princess Royal inspects the sheep entries at the 2022 Royal Welsh Show.
Farming
Huw Jones sets new British shearing record in Machynlleth

Hundreds gather to witness 663 ewes shorn in eight hours
A WELSH shearer has smashed the British record for the most ewes shorn in eight hours during a remarkable solo attempt in Mid Wales.
Huw Jones, aged 27, from Machynlleth, set a new British 8-Hour Solo Ewe Shearing Record on Saturday (July 6), shearing 663 ewes at Hendreseifion farm — eclipsing the previous record of 539 held by Martin Howlett.
The event began at 7:00am and concluded at 5:00pm, with hundreds of spectators present to support and cheer Jones on as he worked with extraordinary speed and precision. The site also holds local significance, being where Meirion Evans achieved a shearing record 12 months ago.
Speaking after the attempt, a visibly exhausted but elated Jones said: “Today has been an amazing day. Thank you to everyone who has helped me achieve what I have here today. Records like this are never just about the shearer — they’re a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”
He also paid tribute to his family, saying: “My family has always supported me in everything I’ve done. I want to especially mention my grandad, who is sadly no longer with us. He was the one who started me shearing, and I hope he’s looking down on me today.”
The day also raised funds for the Welsh Air Ambulance and Aberdyfi Search and Rescue — two charities close to the hearts of many in the local community.
Gareth Jones, Head of Member Engagement at British Wool, said: “On behalf of British Wool, we offer huge congratulations to Huw on this outstanding achievement. It was a display of high-quality shearing, and Huw should be immensely proud. We also acknowledge the tremendous effort of everyone behind the scenes who made the day possible.”
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