THE ROYAL WELSH WINTER FAIR TASTE AWARDS, showcasing the finest native lamb breeds of Wales in a celebration of sustainability, flavour and culinary excellence, were hosted by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS).

The awards, held in collaboration with Cambrian Training Company, the Culinary Association of Wales and the National Culinary Team Wales, spotlighted the exceptional quality of Welsh Lamb and its unique characteristics.

The competition aimed to promote native Welsh Lamb breeds and emphasise their distinct flavours, encouraging chefs, businesses and consumers to consider Welsh Lamb a premium product.

The RWAS says the competition provides a vital platform to showcase the exceptional flavours of native Welsh Lamb breeds while promoting sustainable farming practices.

These lambs are grass-fed, raised in Wales and come with full traceability from farm to fork. The initiative aims to highlight the story behind the meat and the dedicated efforts of farmers in preserving these breeds.

Societies representing seven native Welsh Lamb breeds participated in the competition, held at the Cambrian Training Company building on the Royal Welsh Showground at Llanelwedd.

Each breed’s lamb was expertly cooked by chefs and presented to a distinguished panel of judges, including Dilwyn Evans, a vet featured on TV series ‘Clarkson’s Farm’,        Steven Owen, Castell Howell development chef, Neil Fenn, Professor Rhian Goodfellow, OBE and  Arwyn Watkins, OBE, executive chair of Cambrian Training Group.

The breeds showcased included Badger Face Welsh Mountain (Torddu and Torwen), Balwen Welsh Mountain, Black Welsh Mountain, Clun Forest, South Wales Mountain, Llanwenog and Pedigree Welsh Mountain.

Each lamb had been bred, born and reared in Wales, ensuring sustainable and traceable farming practices.

The awards highlighted the diversity among native Welsh Lamb breeds, from the Torddu and Torwen’s hardy nature to the Llanwenog’s docile temperament and premium meat quality.

Farmers and breed societies demonstrated the unique traits of their lambs, such as flavour, sustainability and adaptability to diverse farming environments.

Arthur Davies (South Wales Mountain) and I. T. Davies & Son (Clun Forest) were declared joint winners of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair Taste Awards. Both breeds impressed the judges with their remarkable flavour, tenderness and quality, showcasing the very best of Welsh Lamb.

The event emphasised the importance of promoting the culinary excellence of Welsh Lamb alongside its visual appeal in show rings.

Guest judge, Dilwyn Evans said: “It has been an absolute honour to judge the Royal Welsh Winter Fair Taste Awards and experience first-hand the superior taste of native Welsh Lamb.

“This exceptional meat not only embodies the rich heritage and dedication of Welsh farming but also highlights the importance of preserving these unique breeds and the sustainable practices behind them.”

The RWAS thanked the judges and Cambrian Training Group for their continued support, helping ensure the lambs were cooked to perfection for the competition.

With the awards, Wales has cemented its position as a leader in premium lamb production, bringing the exceptional flavours of its native breeds to the forefront of the culinary world.

Pictured top of page: Taste Test joint winners, Arthur Davies (South Wales Mountain) and I.T . Davies (Clun Forest) with the judges.

AS OF TODAY, 94% of farmers have received their full or balance Basic Payment Scheme 2024 payment.

Over 15,300 Welsh farm businesses have received payments worth £66.88m, in addition to £160.52m paid as BPS advance payments since 14 October meaning that payments totalling £227.40m have now been made.

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies announced in May that the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will continue for 2025 as part of the SFS Preparatory Phase.

Following the publication of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget for 2025 – 2026 this week, the Deputy First Minister has also confirmed today a total budget of £238 million to provide direct payments to farmers in 2025 at the same level provided in 2024.

BPS 2025 is expected to be the final year of full BPS payments, with those farmers choosing to remain in BPS receiving a reduced payment per year during the SFS transition period starting in 2026.

The Deputy First Minister, said: “We are committed to continued financial support for farmers as they are at the heart of communities right across Wales, and they play a crucial role in our economy and food production. As stewards of our land, they play a key role in protecting and restoring nature and tackling the climate emergency.

“We live in uncertain and challenging times; however, you can be certain about this government’s steadfast commitment to supporting Welsh farmers to sustainably produce quality food, demonstrated today in the maintenance of the BPS budget, despite considerable financial pressures on other areas.

“I recently published an updated SFS Outline demonstrating the significant changes we have made to the proposed Scheme thanks to consultation feedback from the industry and an intensive period of work with the Ministerial Roundtable and other stakeholders. The changes address the needs of Welsh farmers, while supporting the ongoing sustainable production of food, as well as climate change and nature commitments. We will continue to listen to, and work with stakeholders as we progress the extra detail needed before we make any final decisions on the SFS next year.

“We will continue to support the sector in a managed transition away from BPS from next year onwards.”

Several SFS preparatory schemes have also previously been announced, including Habitat Wales Scheme, Habitat Wales Commons, Organic Support Payment, Farming Connect, a new Integrated Natural Resources Scheme. New application windows have or will shortly open for our successful Growing for the Environment, Small Grants Environment, Small Grants Efficiency, Small Grants Horticulture Start up and the newly merged Agriculture Diversification and Horticulture Scheme, with more to come in the New Year.

In addition, the first ever Multi-Annual Support Plan (“MASP”) was published today as required by the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023. This is the first of many reporting requirements which will be publishing under the Act.

The MASP sets out the Welsh Government’s plan and suite of activity for future support, providing the agricultural sector with assurance and transparency and enabling the sector and its businesses to plan in five yearly cycles.

The plan describes each scheme that is intended to be in operation or expected to become operational during this period and provides a description of the support each scheme will provide.

THE FORMER leader of Pembrokeshire County council is to ask the current administration why pupils in the county were not allowed to take part in the ‘wellies to school’ protest against changes to inheritance tax on agricultural property.

The wellies to school spectacle was part of a wider November 19 protest, led by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), held in response to the UK Government’s budget.

At the Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced farmers would have to pay inheritance tax on agricultural property and land worth more than £1 million at a rate of 20 per cent, with a £3m threshold for couples passing on their farms.

This compares to a 40 per cent rate on other estates.

However, Pembrokeshire schools were not allowed to engage in the wellies to school message.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said at the time: “The Education Act 1996 clearly prohibits practitioners from promoting partisan political views, and therefore, our schools are not permitted to promote the farmers’ protest taking place in London today.”

Former council leader Cllr Jamie Adams is now asking why the decision was taken.

In a question submitted to the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Jamie Adams says: “The recent spectacle of children wearing wellies to school on November 19, served as a powerful message that rural communities are concerned about the long-term sustainability of agriculture following the Government’s alterations to Agricultural Inheritance Tax.

“This widespread industry underpins the economy, social fabric, community cohesion and in many parts the Welsh language here in Pembrokeshire as much as any rural county due to the high prevalence of family farms.

“It was therefore concerning to hear that Pembrokeshire Local Education Authority sought to prevent children from overtly demonstrating their support by this action deeming it as ‘political’.

“I would therefore like to ask the Leader [Cllr Jon Harvey] how this position was adopted and who actually made the decision?”

Cllr Adams’ question will be heard at the December 12 meeting.