FUW PRESIDENT VISITS DENBIGHSHIRE MEMBERS

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