Farming

Pembrokeshire farmers put spotlight on trade deals and climate change in discussions with local MP

Published

4 years ago

July 20, 2021

(left to right): FUW Pembrokeshire County Chairman Mike Kurtz, Stephen Crabb MP, FUW Pembrokeshire County Vice chairman Gerwyn Williams

FARMERS from Pembrokeshire have put the spotlight on industry concerns around the free trade deal with Australia and climate change when they met with local MP Stephen Crabb. Hosting the visit was Farmers’ Union of Wales Pembrokeshire County Vice chairman Gerwyn Williams, who farms at Upper Swmbarch, Letterston near Haverfordwest.

The farm extends to approximately 94 acres, with the majority of the land rented from Pembrokeshire County Council, and 3.5 acres owned. Upper Swmbarch is home to a 50 Suckler cow herd, made up of Limousin and British Blue cows. The calves are reared with some sold as stores, some fattened and some kept as replacements. Gerwyn Williams keeps a closed herd and uses AI. Tack sheep are kept on the land in the winter. The land is mainly down to grass, but around 3 hectares of arable silage and 3 hectares of forage rape are grown each year to feed the livestock.

The farm has participated in the Glastir Small Grants scheme, which included planting new hedgerows in a number of locations across the farm and the holding has also previously participated in the Preseli ESA scheme, Tir Gofal and Glastir Entry.

Leading the discussions on the farm walk, Mr Williams said: “We are very concerned about the free trade deal with Australia. There will be major negative impacts for our farmers in Wales. It is absolutely essential that the UK Government ensures there are break clauses in the deal to allow for it to be reviewed. We need the UK Government to stand with the farming sector and help develop export opportunities for our farmers here at home.”

Union officials further highlighted concerns around beef prices and uncertainty within the industry as to what would happen as covid restrictions continue to be lifted and more people begin to eat out. Farmgate prices declined significantly during the early stages of the pandemic given the loss of demand from the UK foodservice sector for premium products such as steaks and cheese, and yet 12 months on, the sector is witnessing soaring lamb and beef prices following a shift in reliance on local food producers and UK sourcing.

(left to right): FUW Pembrokeshire County Chairman Mike Kurtz, Stephen Crabb MP, FUW Pembrokeshire County Vice chairman Gerwyn Williams and FUW Deputy President ian Rickman

“While the domestic foodservice sector is evidently an essential outlet for Welsh produce, it is equally a particularly price sensitive outlet through which large volumes of foreign imports are sold. The FUW is concerned that if trade policies allow for cheap food that undermines our world-leading standards to be imported into the UK, the foodservice sector could become an even larger outlet for such food given that the transparency and pressure to source domestic produce is not applied to the same extent as it is with retailers,” added Gerwyn Williams.

Mr Williams added that whilst the proportion of local produce procured by some public bodies has increased over recent years, there remain significant numbers of administrations which fail to support Welsh agriculture, choosing instead to accept produce from countries which often fail to meet the high production standards which are a requirement in Wales.

“The nature of some procurement contracts means that what appears to be a commitment to procuring Welsh and British produce within procurement rules can be circumvented by carefully worded clauses.

“The impact of Covid-19 on food supply chains in many parts of the world has served as a stark reminder of the dangers of relying on food imports. Domestic policies and trade deals which undermine sustainable food produced by family farms in Wales subsequently place food security, food standards and therefore farmgate prices at risk. Governments must recognise the sheer importance of maintaining and supporting food production, security and standards,” he said.

Addressing concerns around climate change, Union officials discussed how targets are set by the Government and how the UK and Welsh industry is portrayed negatively in the climate change debate. FUW Deputy President Ian Rickman said: “Many of the facts and figures used in the conversation around climate change relate to non-UK systems of production.

“Here in Pembrokeshire ,and across Wales, farmers are adopting climate friendly systems of producing food and looking after the land for example through minimal or no till cropping, grass based production systems, planting of hedgerows, and habitat management. We can’t just get rid of the livestock, or drastically reduce it. Livestock play an essential role in looking after the land. Many habitats have to be grazed in order for them to flourish.

“Our dairy industry is also doing their bit and many dairy farmers are already undertaking carbon footprint calculations and producing nutrient and biodiversity plans as part of their milk contracts. Farming must be seen as the solution to the climate problem and not its root cause.”

Given the many obstacles farmers now face, including the NVZ regulations and bovine TB, Union officials further stressed that recruiting young people into the agriculture sector and sourcing labour was becoming increasingly difficult.

FUW Pembrokeshire County Chairman Mike Kurtz added: “Recruitment seems to be a common problem in relation to vocational occupations that needs to be addressed.

“I would like to thank Stephen Crabb for meeting with us again and discussing so many issues that trouble the industry. We will continue to work with the UK and Welsh Government to ensure we have thriving, sustainable family farms here in Wales for generations to come.”

Farming

Huw Jones sets new British shearing record in Machynlleth

Published

2 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

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.”

Farming

Technology and simple changes can boost Welsh farm profits

Published

1 day ago

July 9, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Study shows major savings possible without big spending

TECHNOLOGY has the potential to revolutionise Welsh farming – but new research suggests some farms could achieve similar savings by simply improving their daily routines.

That’s the conclusion of a recent study by Irish agricultural body Teagasc, which worked alongside Farming Connect in Wales to assess how technology and practical changes can increase efficiency on farms.

At a series of Farming Connect events held across Wales, experts told farmers that tweaking working practices – rather than investing in expensive gadgets – could offer huge returns.

“It’s often the smallest changes that make the biggest difference,” said Conor Hogan, who manages the People in Dairy programme at Teagasc. “Something as basic as how the day is structured, or how the milking parlour is staffed, can save hours every week.”

Big differences in working hours

One study involving 90 dairy farms showed a wide gap in the number of labour hours worked per cow per year – from 23.8 hours at the most efficient farms to 38.9 hours at the least.

This difference, Hogan said, equates to more than 2,000 hours a year – worth around £34,000 if costed at £15 an hour.

The most efficient farms followed a set routine each day, while less efficient ones were more haphazard – leading to longer working days and lower profits.

Low-cost changes can pay off

Other improvements suggested include:

Streamlining milking: Automating cluster removal (ACR) systems and installing exit gates that can be controlled remotely means one worker can manage the parlour, saving time and money.
Better calf feeding: Automatic feeders can increase efficiency by 20%, though Hogan warned that returns vary depending on existing systems.
Grazing infrastructure: Investing in basic trackways, fencing and water points can deliver rapid returns by reducing labour demands.

Be realistic about tech ROI

Although technology can be transformative, Hogan urged farmers to be cautious.

“Tech like heat detection collars can be as good as a skilled stockperson,” he said. “But if a farm already has excellent fertility rates, the return on investment may not justify the cost.”

He added that some benefits – such as better cow health or early detection of lameness – are harder to quantify but may shorten the payback period, especially with grants.

Case study: Rhodri Jones

Rhodri and Siwan Jones, who converted their family sheep and beef farm at Penparc, Llanerfyl into a spring-calving dairy unit, hosted one of the Farming Connect events.

They now milk 197 cows on 65 hectares, achieving strong performance with simple, low-cost systems.

Rhodri considered investing in heat detection collars but concluded they wouldn’t significantly improve fertility on their farm. He is, however, open to exploring other labour-saving tech like automatic calf feeders.

“It’s important to stay open-minded,” said Rhodri. “Technology might help us streamline the business even further.”

Environmental benefits

Dr Non Williams, Farming Connect’s carbon specialist, said precision agriculture – such as GPS and sensors – could reduce waste and cut emissions by improving productivity per input.

New trials of biomethane-powered machinery, running on gas collected from slurry stores and anaerobic digesters, also offer more environmentally friendly alternatives to diesel.

Williams noted that technology like heat detection collars could indirectly reduce the carbon footprint by improving reproduction rates and reducing the number of bulls on-farm.

For more information visit: www.gov.wales/farmingconnect

Photo caption: Conor Hogan of Teagasc with dairy farmer Rhodri Jones at Penparc, Llanerfyl (Pic: Mentera).

Business

Major development at Hayscastle farm refused by planners

Published

4 days ago

July 7, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow a Pembrokeshire farm diversification which packages and distributes specialist medical equipment across Europe to relocate to an agricultural building has been turned down by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr Van Der Spoel of Castle Villa Farm, Hayscastle, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission for the relocation and expansion of an existing farm diversification business into an existing agricultural building.

A supporting statement said the applicant, together with his wife and adult daughter ran the farm diversification at their 135-acre sheep farm.

It added: “The business run from this site is FRIO ASTRID EURO Ltd, which has a franchise agreement with FRIO UK. This business has been run from Castle Villa since its incorporation in 1998. The business was initially run from the stable building on the farmyard at Castle Villa.

“The business set-up involves receiving stock from FRIO UK in Wolfscastle, packaging orders and distributing the stock to seven Western Europe countries. There are three employees, Mr Van der Speol, his wife and adult daughter who all live at Castle Villa.”

Wolfscastle-based FRIO produces the world’s first patented insulin cooling wallet which keeps insulin and other temperature-sensitive medicines cool and safe.

The supporting statement said the Castle Villa Farm business has now outgrown the site and scope for increasing the building is unviable, and all other buildings at the farm used for agricultural purposes.

It added: “In terms of a functional need for the business to be located at this site, the applicant still farms over 135 acres surrounding the site and 300 sheep. He could be needed at any given moment to tend to these sheep, especially during lambing season. Therefore, having the site just a seven-minute walk away is vital in ensuring the agricultural use is not lost at Castle Villa.

“Additionally, the products distributed from the site are medical products and therefore, efficiency of getting these products away to purchasers is vital. Losing hours each week commuting would drastically reduce the efficiency of the business and could result in a downturn of business.”

An officer report recommending refusal said a previous retrospective application for a steel-framed storage and distribution building was refused, with a later appeal dismissed, a later application conditionally allowing the building for an agricultural use.

It also said an appeal had been lodged with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) in early 2024 after an enforcement notice was served, adding an inspector later confirming the only ground upheld was the period for compliance with the notice was too short.

The scheme was refused by county planners on the grounds the development “does not derive its inputs from the land, it is not therefore an enterprise for which a countryside location is essential”.

It added: “In addition, robust evidence has not been provided to demonstrate that the type of activity being undertaken could not be accommodated, or would not be viable, within a nearby settlement or an allocated employment site.

“The development also fails to demonstrate that the scheme operates as a farm diversification. Therefore, it has not been demonstrated that the development is in an appropriate location.”