Farming
National Grid issue safety plea of ‘look out, look up’ to Welsh farmers

DURING Farm Safety Week (22 – 26 July) and the Royal Welsh Show (22 – 25 July), Welsh farmers are being urged to ‘look out, look up’, and stay safe around electrical equipment to avoid the risk of accidents.
Every year, National Grid Electricity Distribution – the electricity operator for South Wales, the Midlands and South West – is called to incidents in which farm vehicles have collided with overhead power lines. It is estimated that at least one agricultural accident involving overhead lines is reported every day in the UK.
One of these reports was at Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, when a harvester collided with a high voltage conductor, leaving the overhead line on the ground. After being made safe, the conductor was re-erected at an increased height to make sure farm machinery could pass safely underneath the power line. No one was injured.
At a farm in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, emergency repairs had to be carried out to overhead lines and conductors after a tractor hit an electricity pole. No one was injured.
As farm machinery continues to increase in size, the distance between equipment and nearby power lines is at risk of reducing, meaning that accidents could be more likely.
Paul Woodward, Safety Manager for National Grid Electricity Distribution, said:
“Every year, our engineers and technicians are called to incidents involving farming equipment and overhead power lines.
“Accidents involving the electricity supply can have devastating consequences, so it’s really important that the farmers ‘look out’ and ‘look up’ – particularly when working with big or heavy machinery.
“We are committed to ensuring that farm workers have the knowledge and resources they need to get home safe every day, and will continue to work with farming communities in South Wales and across the country to reduce incidents involving our power lines.”
As part of National Grid’s farm safety campaign, the operator has outlined five simple steps to ensure farmers stay safe when working close to power lines:
Never raise elevating equipment, such as spray booms, cabbage harvesters and trailer bodies, under or close to overhead power lines.
Never store or move materials under, or close to, overhead power lines, as this reduces the safe clearance distance beneath the overhead lines.
Know the maximum reach and height of any vehicle you are operating, and be vigilant when using GPS – accidents can still happen.
You cannot see electricity – the area around a fallen line, including the soil, equipment and other objects, could be live – so stay away.
If contact is made with a power line, farm workers are advised to stay in the cab and try to drive clear. If that is not possible, the driver should stay in the cab and telephone 105, only leaving the machine in an emergency. When leaving the vehicle, they should take care not to hold the machine and touch the ground at the same time, and take leaping strides so one foot is clear from the ground at all times – or ‘bunny hop’ away with both feet kept together.
Farmers are also encouraged to use the ‘What3Words’ app, which allows farmers to pinpoint the exact location of an incident. This means that network engineers can isolate the power in seconds using remote technology, therefore reducing the risk of accidents and threat to life.
National Grid will be at the Royal Welsh Show all week offering safety advice and giving out stickers to put in the cab of vehicles with a reminder of how to stay safe when working near power lines.
Farmers can find out more about National Grid’s safety advice and access additional resources at National Grid – Farming safety.
Farming
Farming funding fears as Welsh government warns of major cuts

A CHANGE in the UK government’s approach to funding for Welsh agriculture has sparked serious concerns, with First Minister Eluned Morgan warning that the shift could see Wales lose nearly £150m a year in farm support.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has cautioned that the funding formula change could amount to a cut of more than 40%, raising alarm across the industry. The UK government has decided to stop ring-fencing farm support, meaning future allocations will be absorbed into the general funding provided to the Welsh government.
Morgan, addressing MPs at Westminster’s Welsh Affairs Committee, said the move was “a huge concern” and argued that it fails to reflect the higher proportion of farmers in Wales compared to other parts of the UK.
Funding shake-up
The change, first announced in last October’s UK Budget, will see farm funding calculated under the Barnett formula, which determines the Welsh government’s overall budget. Under Barnett, Wales receives around 5% of spending increases in England for devolved matters like health and education, but agricultural leaders argue that this method does not take into account the unique demands of Welsh farming.
Morgan, leader of Welsh Labour, told the committee: “If you just do a Barnett consequential, you’re talking about a 5% [increase], whereas, actually, when it comes to agriculture we should be significantly higher than that.
“It is a huge concern that this has been changed.”
Political pressure mounts
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster agriculture spokesperson Ann Davies said the UK government had failed to provide clarity on how Wales’ higher proportion of farmers would be considered under the new system.
“The Labour first minister now expressing concerns only reinforces the urgency of this issue,” she said. “The UK government must guarantee that Welsh agriculture will not lose out in the future.”
A UK government spokesperson defended the changes, saying: “The Budget provided the Welsh government with a record £21bn settlement, and it receives over 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK government spending.
“It is for the Welsh government to allocate this across its devolved responsibilities, which include agriculture, to deliver on the priorities of people in Wales and support the Welsh rural economy.”
Wider economic worries
During the committee session, Morgan also raised concerns over potential new tariffs on steel imposed by former US President Donald Trump. The proposed 25% import tariff could threaten Welsh steel exports, with the first minister revealing she had already discussed the issue with Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
“I’m sure we are all very concerned to see what President Trump is suggesting in terms of steel tariffs, and we don’t know where that is going to end,” Morgan said.
The first minister is later due to attend a dinner at Windsor Castle hosted by the King, alongside UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Crime
Warning of heavy fines for farms as six Romanians found working at dairy farm

ILLEGAL WORKERS DISCOVERED IN MID WALES RAID
A DAIRY FARM in Llangedwyn, Powys, faces heavy fines after immigration officers arrested six Romanian workers found working illegally during a dawn raid on January 28. The business owners could now be fined up to £60,000 per worker and face a possible prison sentence if found guilty of failing to carry out proper employment checks.
The arrests come as part of a major crackdown on illegal working across Wales and the West of England. Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams carried out 121 visits last month, resulting in 101 arrests—more than double the number recorded in January 2024.
Tougher action against illegal working
Officials say enforcement activity has reached record levels, with 609 arrests made nationwide in January—an increase of 73 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance & Crime, said:
“Despite many premises in the region being in rural locations, these numbers show there is no hiding place from the law. We will come after any business that thinks it can exploit illegal workers for its own gain.”
Since last summer, both illegal working visits and arrests have risen by 38 per cent, with the Home Office issuing 1,090 civil penalty notices to businesses hiring illegal workers.
New law to target people smugglers
The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, set to be debated in Parliament today, will give law enforcement new powers to target people-smuggling gangs and disrupt illegal migration. The legislation will allow officers to search electronic devices for evidence of organised crime.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit illegal migrants with little to no enforcement. Not only does this create a dangerous draw for people to risk their lives crossing the Channel in small boats, but it results in the abuse of vulnerable people and undermines our economy.
“That’s why we are boosting enforcement to record levels alongside tough new legislation to crack down on the criminal gangs that profit from illegal migration.”
Record removals of illegal migrants
Alongside the crackdown on illegal working, the Home Office says it is stepping up deportations of those with no legal right to remain in the UK. Since the election, 16,400 people have been removed, including criminals convicted of drug offences, theft, rape, and murder.
Bespoke charter flights have returned over 800 immigration offenders to their countries of origin, marking the highest removals since 2018.
Farming
Pembrokeshire Farmer Mansel Raymond Elected Chair of CARAS Cymru

PEMBROKESHIRE farmer Mansel Raymond MBE FRAgS has been elected as the new Chair of CARAS Cymru, the prestigious Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies, following his unanimous election by the CARAS Cymru Council in January.
He will serve a two-year term, succeeding Janet Phillips FRAgS, who stepped down after a distinguished tenure as Chair.
CARAS is a highly regarded awarding body that recognises individual who have made exceptional contributions to agricultural and rural progress across the UK. With national panels representing each of the four UK nations, CARAS Cymru plays a key role in celebrating and honouring the achievements of individuals in Welsh agriculture.
Mansel Raymond, a well-respected figure in the agricultural community, leads a family partnership in Pembrokeshire alongside his brother, their wives, and sons.
Over the years, he has held numerous high-level positions across the agricultural industry, including President of Copa Cogeca Milk Board, past Director of First Milk, European Milk Chairman, and Chairman of the NFU’s Milk Board. He has also served as Pembrokeshire County Chairman for NFU Cymru and as past President of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.
In response to his election, Mansel said, “It is a huge honour to take on the role of Chair of CARAS Cymru. I’m deeply proud to be involved with an organisation that recognises the remarkable individuals who shape our agricultural industry.”
He added, “I also want to extend my gratitude to Janet Phillips for her exemplary leadership during her tenure as Chair. Her contributions have been invaluable, and I hope to build upon the strong foundation she leaves behind.”
Mansel will be joined by Malcolm Thomas MBE FRAgS, who has been elected as the new Vice Chairman of CARAS Cymru. Malcolm, from Llangynog in Carmarthenshire, brings a wealth of experience, having had a long and distinguished career in agriculture. He is a former Director of NFU Cymru and has served as a trustee of various charities and organisations throughout his career.
Both Mansel and Malcolm are committed to furthering CARAS Cymru’s ambition to recognise and honour outstanding achievements within agriculture, rural life, and the wider rural economy

-
featured7 days ago
Culture of fear exposed in damning fire service report
-
Business1 day ago
Digital Marketing Challenges for Rural Welsh Businesses
-
Community6 days ago
National triumph: Pembrokeshire pub ranked among the friendliest in UK
-
Education5 days ago
Excluding pupils for knives ‘too simple’, says Estyn chief
-
News5 days ago
Threatening email revealed: Why Neyland’s clerk missed controversial meeting
-
News2 days ago
Police report filed over Neyland Town Council email controversy
-
News6 days ago
Cat stuck in Pembroke Dock tree for days sparks local rescue effort
-
News7 days ago
Pembrokeshire households could face £250 council tax rise