Farming
‘Greening’ measures reviewed
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NFU CYMRU is pleased to have learned that Welsh Government will allow hedges, stone walls and nitrogen fixing crops to count towards greening measures under new CAP rules being introduced from 2015.
The Welsh Government has announced that hedges, stone walls, short rotation coppice, afforested land, fallow land and nitrogen fixing crops such as peas and beans will count towards the five per cent requirement for the new environmental Ecological Focus Area (EFA) required under CAP rules by farmers from 2015. Whilst a significant proportion of farmers in Wales will automatically qualify for the greening element of Pillar 1 support as a result of the majority of their farm being under permanent grassland, farmers who will be required to introduce EFA areas in 2015, have been concerned at how much land they would need to take out of food production. NFU Cymru Combinable Crops Board Chairman, Perkin Evans said, “I am pleased that Welsh Government has made the sensible and pragmatic decision to include hedges and stone walls in the range of options Welsh farmers can use to meet EFA requirements in 2015. Arable fields in Wales generally tend to be quite small compared to the UK and EU average being surrounded by hedges or walls, it is important that these features, that form part of the land we farm, can count towards these new EFA’s. This decision will reduce the amount of land that farmers will need to take out of production to comply with EFA rules as well as delivering positive benefits to the environment. “We recognise that mapping and registering these features will create additional work for farmers and for Government and we will need to work together to get this mapping completed in time for the 2015 application period. “Allowing nitrogen fixing crops such as peas and beans to count towards EFA will also be a relief to our members and now that this decision has been made it gives the arable sector an opportunity to plan for 2015 cropping. “Despite these decisions NFU Cymru members will be disappointed that Welsh Government has not allowed for catch and cover crops to count towards EFA, we will continue to press for these and additional landscape features to be included from 2016. At an EU level we will continue to press for changes to EFA and crop diversification rules at the earliest opportunity.” The written statement by Alun Davies, Minister for Natural Resources and Food, has also provided some further information on how entitlements will be allocated in 2015, the young farmer scheme and national reserve as well as a technical review process for farmers who believe that their land has been incorrectly classified within the new payment region classifications. Rural Payments Wales (RPW) will be writing to farmers in July to provide further detail on all these issues. NFU Cymru President, Stephen James said, “As we receive the detail on how the new CAP will be implemented in Wales from 2015 it is imperative that we all consider carefully how these changes will impact on our farming businesses. I would urge you all to read carefully the information that RPW will be sending out in the coming weeks, to seek clarification where necessary and if you are considering appealing against your regional land classification to make sure that you do it within the strict deadlines that will be set by RPW.”
Farming
Farm building scheme near Lawrenny given go-ahead by planners
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AN APPLICATION for a storage building at a south Pembrokeshire farm, made by a family member of an officer on Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning service, has been given the go-ahead by the authority’s planning committee.
In an application recommended for approval at the July 23 meeting of the authority’s planning committee, Laura Elliot sought permission for the erection of an agricultural storage building at Tedion Farm, a dairy farm near Lawrenny.
The application had been brought to committee, rather than being delegated to planning officers, due to the family connection.
The farm, near to the Pembrokeshire coast National Park border, comprises 270 milking cows and dairy heifer replacements kept on the farm comprising land over 138 hectares. The farm is mainly down to grass and the cows are paddock grazed in order to utilise grass efficiency.
No objections had been received from local community council Martletwy.
A report for members said: “The application seeks consent for the erection of agricultural storage building. The erection of an agricultural building will be used to store stay, hay and farm machinery.
“The building would be located within the existing farm complex, to the north-east of the site, adjacent to the main farm dwelling. The building will measure 18 metres in length by 13.6 metres in width, with a pitched roof height of 5.71 metres.”
Approval was moved by Cllr Alistair Cameron, seconded by Cllr Brian Hall.
Farming
Fears dairy farm near Kilgetty could increase to 3,000 cattle
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PEMBROKESHIRE planners are to visit the site of one of the county’s largest dairy farms after claims were raised a scheme for new calf buildings could lead to animal welfare issues and an increase in the size of the herd to 3,000 cattle.
At the July 23 meeting of the council’s planning committee, an application by Hugh James of Langdon Mill Farms Ltd for a calf building, weaned calf building, and associated yard areas, at Langdon Mill Farm, near Jeffreyston, Kilgetty was recommended for conditional approval.
Local community council Jeffreyston has raised concerns, made by a member of the public, on potential increased noise and odour from the scheme, planners heard.
A supporting statement, through agent Reading Agricultural Consultants, said: “The holding currently has a milking herd of approximately 2,000 cows, which are housed indoors for the majority of the year, with dry cows [cows that are not lactating, prior to calving] and heifers grazed outdoors when weather and soil conditions permit.
“There has been significant investment in buildings and infrastructure at the farm over the last decade in respect of cattle accommodation, slurry storage, milking facilities, Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant and feed storage. The unit is efficient, achieving yields of more than 10,000 litres/cow/year, with cows being milked three times/day in the 60-point rotary parlour.”
Currently, calves are reared at Langdon Mill Farm for two months before being transported off-site to be reared at a number of third-party farms in the area before being return later; the proposed 61.2m long calf building is required to accommodate young-stock, following separation from the cows, to two-months, with the 164.8m weaned calf building to be used for calves from two months to seven months.
The application says the proposals would “clearly make the enterprise more financially robust by reducing reliance on third party farms”.
However, concerns were raised at the committee meeting by objector Ian Dennis, a former vet of some four decades’ experience, who described Langdon as occupying 3,000 acres of land with 2,000 cattle currently that “are never allowed to graze,” the proposal, he said, would add another 1,000 cattle to the site.
“This is factory farming, an intensive livestock unit, no longer a farm.”
He told planners a “mendacious and incorrect” ammonia emission report submitted by the applicants was “designed to bamboozle,” saying, despite his experience and scientific background, he needed expert support to assess.
He said only average figures were reported, rather than peaks and troughs, adding the “fictitious anaerobic digestion plant” had yet to be built, with planning permission now lapsed.
However, officers told members the applicant’s agent had said works on the digestor had actually started.
On the issue of animal welfare, Mr Dennis said he had “very huge concerns” about the scale of the development, differing from a planning officer report saying the scheme would bring animal welfare benefits.
A suggestion by committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock the application be deferred pending a site visit was unanimously backed by committee members present.
Farming
Family pay tribute to farmer, 65, who died in quadbike accident
![](https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Hugh-Tudor-e1721735992301.png)
A WEST WALES farmer has died after an incident involving a quadbike.
Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed they attended a report of an incident involving an agricultural quadbike in a field in the Llanilar area of Aberystwyth on July 17.
The force has confirmed that a 65-year-old man died at the scene.
They said that his next of kin have been advised and are being supported by specialist officers. The HM Coroner and Health and Safety Executives have been informed.
His family have paid tribute to him. The family said: “Hugh Tudor was a 65 year old farmer who had farmed at Tynberllan, Llanilar with his wife Ann for over 40 years. He was a devoted father to Sara, Lowri and the late Gwenno.
“Hugh was the son of the late Tom and Sybil Tudor of Glanystwyth and brother to Richard.
“Farming was his life, but he also had a wide range of interests and was actively involved in all aspects of the local community in Llanilar and beyond.
“We would like to thank everybody for their support and kindness during this difficult time.”
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