Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Farming

Plaid warn Pembrokeshire farmers left high and dry by lack of UK-NZ trade deal protections

Published

on

Plaid Cymru politicians have expressed significant concerns regarding the impact the new trade deal stuck between the UK and New Zealand will have on Pembrokeshire farmers. 

The free trade agreement between New Zealand and the UK Government was signed on 28 February 2022 and is set to open the doors to a significant import of meat produce which could potentially hit the farming sector in Wales harder than in any other part of the UK. 

NFU Cymru has recently raised concerns about the deal, stating that the potential negative cumulative impact of this cannot be overstated. 

The New Zealand trade deal follows another similar deal with Australia, and while it offers significant upsides for farmers on the other side of the world, it potentially creates significant marketplace changes for Welsh farming. 

Figures from the Farmers Union of Wales state the agreement could see the amount of beef that can be imported tariff-free from New Zealand rise immediately to 12,000 then gradually to 38,820 tonnes in ten years’ time. Further rises would occur in the subsequent five years, after which there would be no limit. A similar increase would also be seen in lamb, with the amount that could be imported tariff-free would increase by 35,000 tonnes per annum in years one to four, then by 50,000 tonnes per annum in years five to fifteen, after which there would be no limit. 

Plaid Cymru’s Agriculture Spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, has today (2 March, 2022) raised the issue as a matter of urgency with the Welsh Government in the Senedd. 

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS said: 

“While the spin will be about benefits, the truth is that this trade deal is a real cause for concern for Welsh farmers. 

“The agreement will provide a 15 year transitional period, and it states that they will only be able to ‘utilise new access to the UK sheep meat market once they have filled 90% of their existing World Trade Organization (WTO) quota’. 

“However, this leaves Welsh farmers at the whim of a market whereby they have no control nor input. Should something change in the sheep meat market then New Zealand meat would suddenly end up here or in the EU and undermine Welsh farmers. 

“By failing to ensure that there are tariffs on imports here the UK Government have left Welsh farmers completely open to the whims of a market which they have no say and no protection. 

Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Mid & West Wales added:  

“Let us be clear, this trade deal is a gross betrayal of Pembrokeshire farmers. The UK Government’s own analysis suggests that the number of people working in agriculture will be negatively impacted by this deal, whilst it also threatens to undermine the entire Welsh agriculture sector – which we know is far more susceptible to harm from a poor trade deal than other farmers in other parts of the UK.  

As we face a climate emergency, importing more food from the other side of the world that could be produced sustainably here in Wales, does not make any sense whatsoever. 

Clearly, efforts must now be taken at Westminster to ensure that the Welsh farming sector is safeguarded from the potential negative impact of this agreement.”  

Farming

New research network aims to reduce dairy farming carbon footprint

Published

on

INNOVATIVE strategies to significantly reduce high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the dairy industry are being trialled in a major new research project.

The pioneering initiative will test and assess the effectiveness of a range of science-based solutions aimed at making dairy farming more economically and environmentally sustainable.

A network of 56 dairy farms is being set up across four major dairying regions in the UK, including West Wales and South/South-West England; Northern Ireland; Cumbria and South-West Scotland, and North-West England.

The network will provide a series of demonstration hubs where farmers, industry, scientists and policymakers can work together to deploy and evaluate the impact of the new measures.

Aberystwyth University is one of ten leading research institutions contributing to the UK Dairy Carbon Network project, which is led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

The project will be developing a toolkit of practical measures which dairy farmers can choose to adopt in a bid to reduce their herd’s carbon footprint.

Options could include:

  • improving forage quality through science developed by plant breeding programmes at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)
  • following the latest research on best practice for silage making
  • reducing the protein content of dairy cow feeds to improve nitrogen use efficiency.

Professor Jon Moorby, Chair in Livestock Science at Aberystwyth University, said: “Dairy cows contribute significantly to Wales’s rural economy and produce high quality food for people from grass and other forages.  However, cows, like other ruminant animals, produce greenhouse gases like methane as a by-product of converting grass into milk.  

“Many dairy farmers are already taking steps to help minimise greenhouse gas production from their cows and this project aims to demonstrate further what can be achieved across all types of dairy farms to help improve their sustainability. This is a collaborative initiative and we want to work closely with farmers as well as the wider industry and policymakers.”

Professor Steven Morrison, Head of Sustainable Livestock Systems at AFBI, said: “Our goal with the project is to drive meaningful change in the dairy sector by applying research directly to real-world farming conditions and measuring the impact.

“By working closely with farmers and using advanced measurement and modelling techniques, we aim to measure and report significant reductions in the carbon emissions from dairy farming in the UK. During the formation of the project, the interest from across the agricultural sector was immense, with over 50 organisations offering support and indicating a willingness to get involved in the project once commissioned.”

The UK Dairy Carbon Network Project is funded by the UK Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Led by AFBI, the UK wide consortium of organisations also includes the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB); AgriSearch; UK Agritech Centre; ADAS; Aberystwyth University; Queen’s University Belfast; Harper Adams University; University of Reading; Newcastle University and Scotland’s Rural College.

Continue Reading

Farming

Farmers urged to monitor winter wheat as early yellow rust raises concerns

Published

on

UNUSUAL early observations of yellow rust on several winter wheat varieties in some Recommended Lists (RL) trials mean farmers will need to monitor crops more closely and not rely on RL disease ratings this season, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Recent RL trial inspections in the North of England have found signs of the foliar disease on several varieties classified as resistant at young plant stage in the latest RL (2025/26), including some varieties that are widely grown. There are also the first hints of something unusual starting to happen in other RL trial regions.

As the yellow rust pathogen population is highly diverse, it is not unusual to detect new strains. However, these early observations suggest that there may be a significant new strain or strains in the UK pathogen population that we have not seen before.

Interestingly, some varieties historically classified as susceptible at the young plant stage are currently relatively clean at the impacted trial sites. This suggests a potential pathogen population shift that may have displaced some other yellow rust strains.

AHDB Senior Crop Production System Scientist, Mark Bollebakker, responsible for managing the RL trials, said: “The trials in question were at about growth stage 30 at the time of inspection, so adult plant resistance had not kicked in. When it does, from stem extension onwards, these varieties may outgrow initial infection. However, it is difficult to predict what will happen. We have sent samples to UKCPVS for testing to give us a better understanding of what we are seeing.”

With a very fluid situation, farmers and agronomists should inspect all varieties prior to final spray decisions and not rely on the RL ratings until we know more.

AHDB trial inspectors are assessing the situation and further updates will be issued as soon as possible.

More information can be found at: Has the winter wheat yellow rust population shifted? | AHDB

Continue Reading

Farming

Farming Connect mentor involved with the latest series of ‘Our Dream Farm’

Published

on

CATCH up with the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the finalists in the second series of ‘Our Dream Farm’, Channel 4’s popular tv programme, who are currently on our screens at 7pm on Saturday evenings; the ‘dream farm’ is in Eryri – formerly known as Snowdonia – and Farming Connect has been part of the process!  

You can watch the final group of seven, ultra-hopeful candidates – some filmed with supportive better halves or relatives – as they are put through their farming paces in the second series of ‘Our Dream Farm’.  Presented by popular tv personality, farmer and countryside expert Matt Baker, this year’s ‘dream farm’ with its mix of mountain pasture, woodlands and lowland is in one of the most jaw-droppingly spectacular locations in Wales. 

Acknowledged as ‘the opportunity of a lifetime’, a 15 year-long tenancy of the 248-hectare farm, which includes a beautifully refurbished house and numerous outbuildings owned and managed by National Trust Wales, is the amazing prize up for grabs. 

Farming Connect became part of the selection process when one of its mentors and Agrisgôp Leaders, Caroline Dawson, was invited to mentor and tutor the finalists in an on-farm workshop she designed and led.  Caroline, a specialist diversification and agri-food expert from North Wales, began her day with an ice-breaker activity.

“I asked each member of the group to sketch a picture of themselves and list their strengths.

“There were lots of incredulous laughs at first but they all quickly realised the real challenge had started, because it’s not easy to describe yourself in a way that demonstrates what makes you more knowledgeable, more focused, more tenacious and more able – in other words the best tenant – to manage this amazing farm,” said Caroline. 

Throughout the duration of Caroline’s day-long workshop, which took place in one of the farm’s specially re-purposed ‘picture perfect’ barns, eagle-eyed judges Giles Hunt, Land and Estates Director for the National Trust and Trystan Edwards, General Manager for Eryri National Trust Cymru joined Matt Baker to observe the whole process as Caroline put the final seven – whittled down from the original 11 applicants – through a series of exercises. 

National Trust Cymru purchased this farm in 2012, following a successful public appeal.  Until 2020 they ran it in partnership with Wales YFC, after which it was managed by five YFC scholars through subsequent shorter-term tenancies.  The conservation charity now wants to hand over the reins longer term, giving the new tenants sufficient time to combine sustainable land management and conservation principles with developing a resilient, profitable, diversified farm business.  In addition to managing the farm’s sheep flocks, they will need to implement a new business plan which capitalises on the high number of tourists who visit Eryri each year.  

The steep surrounding land is insufficiently productive for large stock numbers but there is significant potential to diversify.  Caroline, an experienced facilitator, devised activities that required each contestant to explain how they planned to capitalise on the opportunities to attract, accommodate and manage revenue-earning activities for the nature lovers, walkers, climbers, cyclists and water-sports enthusiasts who flock to the area every year. Each candidate had to demonstrate their vision, showing they had the confidence and ability to produce and implement the best business plan to preserve the heritage of the farm with its unique biodiversity, while safeguarding its long-term viability through tourism.

Each programme in the current series will feature various challenges and practical exercises with applicants eliminated one at a time until the names of the winner are revealed in the final episode of Series 2.

“Tenancies of this calibre are extremely rare. I feel hugely privileged to have met each of the brilliant candidates and played some small part in a process that will lead to a life-changing opportunity for the ultimate winner or winners,” said Caroline.

Continue Reading

Crime4 hours ago

Carmarthenshire kidnap victim speaks out: ‘I thought I was going to die’

THE MUSIC producer lured to West Wales and brutally assaulted in a staged kidnap plot has spoken publicly for the...

News1 day ago

Welsh pensioners to receive state pension increase amidst mixed reactions

STARTING this month, over 600,000 pensioners across Wales will see their State Pensions rise by up to £470 annually, following...

News1 day ago

Spot checks uncover taxi issues in Milford Haven and Neyland

Six suspensions, untaxed vehicle and missing badges found SPOT checks on taxis and private hire vehicles in Milford Haven, Neyland...

News2 days ago

Fire chief praises crews for response to grass fires

Over 250 incidents tackled during dry spell THE CHIEF Fire Officer of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service...

News2 days ago

Man paralysed after being shot during weapons test at Pendine MoD range

Defence firm fined £800,000 over ‘devastating’ safety failure A CIVILIAN weapons expert was left paralysed from the neck down after...

Crime3 days ago

Former police superintendent dismissed for gross misconduct

Misogynistic behaviour spanned three years, hearing told A FORMER senior officer has been dismissed from Dyfed-Powys Police following a gross...

Charity4 days ago

Royal visit celebrates Pembrokeshire charity’s community impact

STAFF, volunteers and visiting pupils at Lower Treginnis Farm were delighted to welcome a very special guest on Wednesday (April...

Business4 days ago

Valero refinery escapes Trump’s new tariffs

Fuel imports spared as US tries to avoid price hikes THE VALERO oil refinery in Pembroke has escaped the impact...

Crime4 days ago

Leaked messages point to leadership crisis at HMP Parc

Staff mocked suicide and bragged about assaults as G4S failed to intervene A CULTURE of violence, cruelty and neglect flourished...

News5 days ago

Cleddau Bridge Hotel site housing development takes a step forward

CASTELL GROUP, in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, have completed the sale for the redevelopment of the former Cleddau Bridge...

Popular This Week