June 2008 Archives

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan repeated his plea to south-east Wales farmers to make arrangements with their vets to vaccinate livestock against Bluetongue after the Welsh Assembly Government announced vaccination can begin this Friday, June 27.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones confirmed that Bluetongue vaccine has been released for use in south-east Wales. She also confirmed the existing Restricted Zone in south-east Wales will be declared a Protection Zone from midday on Friday. Under EU law, vaccination is only permitted within a Protection Zone.

Mr Vaughan said: "I would now like to repeat the advice I gave last month to farmers in the current Restricted Zone who have not registered with their vets to do so immediately."

Announcing the start of vaccination, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said they had worked closely with Defra and Intervet to ensure the vaccine reaches farmers in Wales as soon as possible.

Bluetongue is an animal disease spread by midges and affects all ruminants. Although sheep are the most severely affected, cattle are the main mammalian reservoir of the virus, and animals surviving the disease can suffer long term damage that affects condition, fertility, and milk yields.

"Given our core reliance on the livestock and milk sectors, it is imperative that we all take a proactive approach in order to minimise the impact of this terrible disease," said Mr Vaughan. "Vaccinating our animals is the only realistic way of doing this.

"Those who have not yet contacted their vets should do so now, and if you contacted your vet before the current ordering system was put in place, you should also double-check that your names have been carried on to the new lists," he added.

The Farmers' Union of Wales has urged North Wales Police Authority to intervene to reverse a decision to transfer a policeman dedicated to rural farming issues to normal duties.

FUW Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones said today Con Dorian Roberts, who was appointed farming communities officer four years ago, had done a great deal to combat crime in rural areas.

"But we were disappointed to learn recently that the police force had decided to transfer him from his base at Gaerwen, Anglesey, to Llangefni Police station and his work will be done by Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)."

At the same time there is an increasing spate of rural crime throughout Wales involving thefts of fuel from farm vehicles and tanks.

Even North Wales deputy chief constable Clive Wolfendale has admitted that with increasing thefts of heating oil, petrol and diesel being reported across the country, we are heading for a sustained period of criminal activity in this area of business.

Now Mr Jones has written to the police authority's chief executive Kelvin Dent on behalf of the union's Meirionnydd county executive committee expressing its strong feelings of dismay and disappointment regarding the decision to axe the farming communities officer.

Mr Jones, a member of the panel that interviewed Con Roberts when he was appointed, said it was disappointing that both Welsh farming unions were not consulted about the decision.

Together with FUW Caernarfon county executive officer Gwynedd Watkin and NFU's Merionethshire, Mid Gwynedd and Anglesey policy adviser Dafydd Jarrett, Mr Jones met Chief Superintendent Geraint Annwyl Williams at Caernarfon recently.

"We had a long and frank discussion regarding the whole issue. We were told that the decision was necessary due to the need to save £1.2m from the budget and that priorities had to be met.

"We argued strongly that the agricultural industry needed a person with the background, knowledge and expertise to deal with issues in the industry, and that the excellent work carried out by Con Dorian Roberts during the last few years completely justified the post.

"Indeed we could not agree that axing the post made any savings at all since he gave so much assistance to community beat managers and community support officers."

Farmers Union of Wales President Gareth Vaughan attended the official opening of 'BML
Bio Fuel' last Thursday at its site in Derwydd, Llanfihangel G.M, Nr Corwen.

The company is the first cold press oilseed rape plant in Wales. The plant currently produces in the region of 1.3 million litres a year of clean green bio-fuel. The company has been established by locals Llyr Jones, Bryn Jones and Medwyn Roberts.

During his address at the opening, officially opened by Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister, WAG, Gareth Vaughan said " We welcome, and congratulate BML Bio-fuel on this new and exiting venture, and wish them all the very best. We as a Union believe that the development of bio - crops has potential in Wales but only if growers are supported in terms of establishment costs, market support and stimulating demand. We also believe it is important for local authorities to support the development of this area of the industry by allowing the development of plants in order to utilize business"

Any further information on BML Bio Fuel is available on 01490 - 420459.

The Farmers Union of Wales President Gareth Vaughan has urged rural affairs Minister Elin Jones to explore all possible options to reduce the threat to small abattoirs, during a recent visit to J. Williams in Denbigh.

The President, and a delegation of Union County Officials were given a tour of the new premises on Vale Street, as well as the abattoir, by Glyn Davies. It was explained they have major concerns on the proposed changes to the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), changes which will be implemented over the next 12 months. He explained that growing costs, and the anticipated changes could be damaging to his business and many others like his across Wales.

At the end of the visit, FUW President Gareth Vaughan said, "We hope to discuss these worrying changes with the MHS in the near future, and hope that a common sense approach is adopted to ensure our network of local abattoirs are able to continue in the future".

County Executive Officer Gareth Wyn Jones also added, "When public demand and government support for locally slaughtered produce is growing it is vital that businesses such as Glyn's is given the support it needs to ensure the industry, as well as the consumer, has access to local produce. The local abattoirs are therefore essential to this need".

The Denbighshire and Flintshire Branches of the Farmers' Union of Wales recently came out 'top' amongst the Union's 12 County Branches and won the 'Owen Slaymaker Memorial Award'.

The award is presented annually to the County that has: -

· Raised the Union's profile effectively through organised events, functions and meetings.
· Promoted the Union's work and activities, as well as raise awareness of the Union's policies, concerns and campaigns.
· Quality of consultation responses.
· Strong and committed County Executive Committee.

Presenting the award at the Union's Grand Council meeting to Gareth Wyn Jones, County Executive Officer for both Branches, Emyr Jones, Deputy President, congratulated them, highlighting that the Counties work was excellent, and a lot of success was had locally through a strong and committed team of staff, officials and County Executive Committees.

Among the areas of work mentioned was 12 meetings with local AM's or MP's in the last 12 months, a publicity campaign in partnership with Wrexham Football Club to promote the use of Welsh Lamb following the Foot and Mouth outbreak, a 'Farmhouse Breakfast' event at Brookhouse Mill Denbigh, attended by Elin Jones, Minister for Rural Affairs, as well a campaign to raise awareness of milk and dairy produce within schools.

After accepting the award on behalf of both counties, Gareth Wyn Jones said, " I am extremely proud to be receiving this award on behalf of the Denbighshire and Flintshire Branches. We have an extremely committed team within both Counties and I thank everyone for their hard work and commitment. We will continue to work hard and represent our members, and the agricultural and rural communities of both areas, in the future.'

FUW PRESIDENT VISITS DENBIGHSHIRE MEMBERS

Farmers' Union of Wales President Gareth Vaughan visited a number of enterprising projects throughout Denbighshire today (Thursday, June 12).

The visit started at 9.30am with a call at Ruthin Livestock Market to meet auctioneers and farmers to discuss various issues of concern for the agricultural industry and to hear about the union's work and activities.

It was then on to Llanefydd for a farm walk at Bodysgaw Isaf, at 11am. This will an opportunity for British Grassland Society 2007 competition winner, FUW member Arthur Owen and family, to take visitors on a tour of the farm and land and talk about their farming practises and how they manage their grassland.

British Grassland Society president and head judge of last year's competition, Richard Ratcliffe, was also in attendance to give a short presentation on the national grassland management competition and explain why Mr Owen's farm was successful.

Early afternoon saw Mr Vaughan call at butcher and slaughterhouse operator Glyn Davies, of J Williams Butchers, Denbigh.

This gave the president an opportunity to discuss with Mr Davies the changes to the Meat Hygiene Service charging policies and their impact on the small slaughterhouse industry.

Mr Vaughan's came to an end at Derwydd Farm at Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, near Cerrigydrudion, at the launch of a bio-fuel project being officially opened by Welsh Assembly Government Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones at 4pm.

Local farmers, FUW member Bryn Jones, Llyr Jones and Medwyn Roberts, have teamed up to establish Wales' first bio-fuel plant BML Biofuels - which begins production this week - in a bid to offer cheaper and greener energy at a time of rocketing world oil prices.

Llyr, who farms livestock on his 1,000-acre Derwydd Farm, will continue to focus on rearing stock but the bio-fuel project will provide security in the future as the industry changes.

The project was set up with the help of Menter a Busnes' Agrisgôp programme and although the bio-fuel plant is based in Wales most of the crops are grown in Shropshire and Herefordshire.

"I have enjoyedvisiting Denbighshire and hearing about the way in which people are meeting the many challenges currently facing agriculture and related enterprises," said Mr Vaughan.

"One example of this is that although the biofuel plant is in Wales maybe in the next three to four years it will be sourcing the oilseed rape from places like Anglesey, the Llyn Peninsula and the Vale of Clwyd," said Mr Vaughan

EMYR JONES was re-elected deputy president of the Farmers' Union of Wales during a meeting of the union's grand council in Aberystwyth today (Thursday, June 5).

A former vice president of the union, Mr Jones was brought up on the family farm Rhiwaedog, Rhosygwaliau, Bala, which extends to 356 acres and carries 60 Welsh Black suckler cows and 1,200 sheep.

He is married to Eluned and their daughter Elen lives with her husband and two children in Anglesey. Both sons, Aled and Dylan, work at home on the family farm in Bala.

Mr Jones was the union's Meirionnydd county chairman between 1998-2000 and for many years represented the county branch on the central hill farming and marginal land committee.

He was elected to represent north Wales on the union's central finance and organisation committee in June 2000 and was elected one of the union's three vice presidents in June 2002.

He is a prominent member of a number of organisations including the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society, the Welsh Black Cattle Society, and is a director of the Meirionnydd County Show.

His contribution to agriculture was recognised in 1995 when he became an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Society and received the honour of Fellow in 2001.

His farm has won several prizes over the years including awards by the Grassland Society, the Royal Welsh Show farm buildings and facilities award and the Snowdonia National Park Society farming and landscape award.

Mr Jones is the FUW representative on the new campaign group Fairness for Farmers in Europe.

The family has hosted several farm visits over the years by various organisations and societies. Mr Jones also devotes a great deal of time to community life, being a former community council chairman.

He is involved with his local show at Llangower and is also a deacon at his local chapel. He is passionately committed to the principles on which the FUW was established.

GARETH VAUGHAN was re-elected for the fifth successive time as president of the Farmers' Union of Wales during the organisation's council meeting in Aberystwyth this afternoon (Thursday, June 5).

Mr Vaughan, who begins his sixth year in office, won the confidence of the union's members by being overwhelmingly elected by delegates from the union's 12 county branches for the top post.

"I'm delighted to be re-elected as president and look forward to driving forward the aims and ambitions of the FUW in the future and seeing the results of the union's investment and everyone's hard work over recent months in the union's financial services arm bearing fruit," he said.

Born in Llanidloes in 1941, Mr Vaughan attended Manledd Primary and Llanidloes High Schools. He left at the age of 15 to work on the family farm, and joined Llangurig Young Farmers Club where his interests included public speaking and drama.

He runs a traditional beef and sheep unit at Cwmyrhiewdre Farm, Dolfor, near Newtown which extends to 862 acres. He farms in partnership with his wife of over 40 years, Audrey, and 11 years ago his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Brian joined the business.

Over the years the family has carried out extensive improvements, with shelter belts, new buildings, land drainage and farm road layouts. Some 2,000 metres of new hedgerow has been planted with the aid of grants from Radnor ESA. Other hedge improvements were undertaken with the assistance of the Countryside Council for Wales.

Mr Vaughan has been an active member of the FUW for many years. He was chairman of the Newtown branch in 1988-89 and Montgomeryshire county chairman from 1991-93.

He has represented the county on the union's grand council and land use and parliamentary committee, the British Wool Marketing Board, the Meat and Livestock Commission liaison committee and the Agricultural Dwellinghouse Committee.

He was elected as the north Wales member of the FUW's national finance and organisation committee in 1998 before being elected vice president in 2000, deputy president in June 2002 and president in June 2003.

Mr Vaughan places great importance on supporting the local community and is involved with his local agricultural show, new hall committee and other local charities.

Ends

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gareth Wyn Jones of the Farmers' Union of Wales spreads the word about Welsh produce at the Urdd National Eisteddfod 2008, Penrhyn Bay.

The Farmers Union of Wales and Grassland Society members are invited to attend a farm walk at Bodysgaw Isa, Llannefydd in the company of Arthur Owen and family 2007 winners of the British Grassland Society National Grassland Management Competition.

It takes place on 12th June 2008 at 11am and is followed by light refreshments.

RSVP by 6th June 2008
FUW County Office, 69a Clwyd Street,
Ruthin LL15 1HN
01824 707198