February 2009 Archives

The Farmers' Union of Wales has welcomed a European Parliament Environment Committee vote in favour of easing restrictions on the disposal of fallen stock.

The recommendation to the European Commission was made after a series of amendments jointly proposed by Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans and SNP colleague Alyn Smith.

The amendments call on the EC to revise its rules to enable individual member states to distinguish the definition of "remote areas", therefore allowing greater flexibility on on-farm burning or burial in some cases.

FUW Hill Farming Chairman Derek Morgan said: "The committee's recommendation is an important first step towards realising the industry's needs for a commonsense approach to the fallen stock issue.

"The industry badly needs a system that minimises the financial implications and biosecurity risks of having to pay for fallen stock to be transported from farm to farm before being incinerated or rendered, rather than being buried on farm."

During the meeting there was also support for the principle of on-farm containment which could particularly benefit sheep farmers who farm extensively in upland and less accessible areas.

A Fairtrade coffee morning has been organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales's Anglesey branch in support of the union's joint campaign with the Wales Fair Trade Forum (WFTF) to promote fair prices for food producers in Wales and throughout the developing world.

Last year Wales became the first ever "Fair Trade Nation" and the FUW announced its support for Fair Trade at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in December.

The coffee morning will be held on Saturday, February 28 - during Fairtrade Fortnight (February 23 - March 8) - at the Nant-Yr-Odyn Hotel, Llangristiolus.

Guests include Fair Trade speakers and catering managers from local companies and FUW policy director Dr Nick Fenwick will also be present. The Co-operative store at Menai Bridge has donated Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits for the event.

FUW county executive officer Heidi Williams said: "We are grateful to The Co-operative for their generosity and we very much appreciate their continuous support for Fairtrade products."

The FUW and the WFTF support the key message: "If you can't buy local produce, buy Fair Trade produce".

"Following this principle recognises ways of supporting small scale producers - whether in underdeveloped countries of the Third World or right here in Wales," said Mrs Williams.

The Co-operative Group is also supporting Fairtrade Fortnight with a series of initiatives, as well as savings of up to 20 per cent on selected Fairtrade products.

Their stores stock the widest range of Fairtrade grocery products of any UK supermarket, with 230 different Fairtrade lines, and was the first high street retailer to list Cafedirect back in 1992.

During this year's Fairtrade Fortnight, Colombian coffee growers Jose Manuel Ocampo Lopez and Rosa Helena Lopez De Soto, who provide beans for the Fairtrade coffee sold in Co-operative food stores across the UK, will attend a series of regional events to talk about the difference Fairtrade has made to themselves and their communities.

Anyone interested in attending the FUW coffee morning should telephone the Anglesey county branch office on (01248) 750250.

CAPTION: Julie Hughes (left) of Menai Bridge Co-operative store presents Heidi Williams with various donated items for the coffee morning.

Farmers are being warned that booking an exchange rate for converting Single Farm Payments from Euros into Sterling today for future use is a gamble which may, or may not, pay off.

"Farmers are being encouraged by the financial markets to enter into forward option contracts, which means booking forward an exchange rate for converting 2009 Single Farm Payments from Euros into Sterling," said Farmers' Union of Wales business development director Emyr James.

"But they should be aware of the pitfalls, as exchange rates can go up as well as down," he warned.

"What if the Euro was worth even more than 89p by the Autumn? The forward rate will not necessarily be today's rate as a view on the future value of Sterling will have been taken.

"If you choose to received your SFP in Sterling, payment is converted at the September 30 exchange rate. You may, however, opt for payment to be made in Euros and convert this by using a forward booked rate.

"The appeal of this option is that, due to a weak Sterling, the Euro is today trading at circa 89p compared with 79p in September 2008 and 69p in September 2007.

"You will need to know how many Euros you have to exchange, allowing for modulation. The forward rate will be booked for conversion during a window expiring 12 months from the date of booking; ie a March 1, 2009 booking would create a window from December 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010.

"It is important that the Euro payment is to hand for converting during the window period. If not, you will have to buy Euros at the prevailing rate to convert into Sterling at the booked rate. These rates may differ substantially.

"You cannot, therefore, afford any errors or omissions in completing the SFP application form, giving rise to payment delays.

"If you are still interested in this gamble, contact your banking relationship manager who will liaise with their treasury department on your behalf. No deposits or fees are payable but there is a small administrative charge.

"An appreciation of financial and commodity markets may convince you that a forward option contract is right for your business, but beware: all foreign currency trading comes with a health warning."

The Farmers' Union of Wales today called on farmers to take full advantage of the knowledge, expertise, training and advisory services offered by the revamped Farming Connect programme.

The call was made by the union's agricultural education and training committee, which heard from the Farming Connect delivery manager Patrick Cowdy of the practical, accessible support that Farming Connect has to offer farmers.

The committee heard that over 1,000 farmers had registered for the new Farming Connect programme with the majority of those pin-pointing the variety of subsidised training courses it had to offer as their main reason for registering.

Since its introduction in 2001 Farming Connect has helped more than 7,000 farmers to maximise their potential and improve the sustainability of their businesses.

But an FUW survey carried out at last year's Royal Welsh Winter Fair revealed the majority of participants (57.6%) had not registered or re-registered with the new programme. Only 32.6% had registered or re-registered and 9.8% were unsure.

Committee chairman Alun Edwards said: "It was emphasised during our meeting that farmers who had registered for the original service need to re-register for the new programme before being able to take advantage of any training courses.

"Therefore, our advice to farmers is not to leave it to the last minute before registering in order to avoid missing out on any future training courses. Only farmers who have registered under the new programme will be eligible to claim back a substantial part of the costs of any courses undertaken."

Farmers can register by phoning the Farming Connect Service Centre on 08456 000 813 to complete a registration form over the phone with a centre operator.

Following registration, the Service Centre refers farmers to a regionally based Farming Connect co-coordinator who will discuss their farm business needs with them.

Farming Connect provides:

· Knowledge transfer opportunities for farmers to keep up to date with the latest research and development, to learn from experts and share best practice through four sector-focused development programmes (red meat, organic, dairy, and land management).

· Measures to support young entrants.

· Guidance on a wide range of sector-specific topics.

· Opportunities to attend open days or farm walks, visit Farming Connect development farms and demonstration farms or join discussion groups with other farmers and experts.

· One-to-one subsidised mentoring for up to five days from specialist advisers, including help with the production of a Whole Farm Plan. Eligible farmers can claim back a substantial part of the costs - 50% for most farmers, 80% for young entrants.

ASSEMBLY Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones will be given a demonstration of the controversial sheep and goats' electronic identification (EID) technology on Friday, February 13 on a farm at Saron, Llanwnda, near Caernarfon.

Farmers' Union of Wales member Huw Jones' farm, Pengwern, is one of 14 farms taking part in a joint Hybu Cig Cymru-Welsh Assembly Government pilot trial into the feasibility of introducing EID to the Welsh sheep industry.

"I have been trialing the EID technology for the past 12 months and I am convinced the system is totally unworkable after 20 per cent of my flock lost their tags," said Huw Jones.

"I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to get the technology to work for me on my farm and I found that although the electronic hand-held reader reads the tags relatively well, using this type of equipment is a lengthy process and is unpractical to say the least.

"The electronic race-reader is much better in theory but in practice I found it very unreliable. I recently brought 150 ewes down from the mountain and put them through the race and the reader only recorded 108 ewes.

"Such unreliability is just not good enough. I have no doubt that the technology is not sufficiently developed to be practical for the average Welsh flock."

Alun Ffred Jones, Arfon's Plaid Cymru AM, said: "I'm aware of the concerns regarding the EID tagging scheme and that many see it as unnecessary and expensive bureaucracy. I look forward to discussing the matter and listening to suggestions from people within the industry who will have to deal with the repercussions of the scheme's implementation."

The visit, arranged by FUW's Caernarfon county executive officer Gwynedd Watkin, will give the Minister the opportunity to see the technology at work at first hand.

Mr Watkin said: "The policy of EID for sheep has not been thought through properly and could ruin the financial viability of the industry.

"The technology used for EID is temperamental to say the least, even the slightest hitch with the technology could bring a livestock market or abattoir to a standstill, with major financial consequences for all concerned.

"I have invited John Lloyd Williams of Bryncir Agricultural Auction Centre and Gren Jones of Conwy Valley Meats to be present at the meeting so that the Minister can hear the concerns from all aspects of the industry."

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today commended the decision by Pembrokeshire auctioneers J J Morris to cancel a Red Market sale at Whitland.

Mr Vaughan also called on farmers and auctioneers to stand firm against aggressive moves by processors and supermarkets to pass their overheads on to farmers via the auction markets.

The Whitland sale was due to have been held today, and would have involved the sale of some 120 cattle from farms under TB restrictions.

"The cancellation of Wednesday's Red Market at Whitland comes as a huge blow to Welsh farms that are under TB restrictions and had animals booked in to the sale" said Mr Vaughan.

"These businesses need to move animals off their holdings as soon as possible in order to alleviate the huge pressures that accompany TB movement restrictions, and the decision will add significantly to the problems in the area, and could even affect the Welsh Assembly's TB control programme," said Mr Vaughan.

"However, the industry should not give in to this kind of intimidation by supermarkets and abattoirs, and I commend the stance taken by the livestock auctions.

"Moves by abattoirs and supermarkets to levy farmers, whether via the livestock markets or otherwise, should be resisted. If we bow to this it could be the thin edge of the wedge.

"At what point will the auctioneers then be asked to deduct fixed charges to cover water and electricity bills, or other abattoir or supermarket overheads?

"The bottom line is that this is a public health issue, and should either be picked up by government or passed down the chain to supermarkets and other customers."

Mr Vaughan added that he was deeply suspicious about the apparently coordinated way in which the livestock auctioneers had been asked to levy farmers.

"The way in which some appear to have stood together on this issue smacks of collusion. Companies that work together in order to manipulate the market place risk falling foul of the law, and we shall pass on any evidence of such practices to the Office of Fair Trading."

"It is disgraceful that the supermarkets and abattoirs may make the TB situation worse due to tactics that are effectively designed to drive farmgate prices down

Welsh farmers and agricultural businesses were urged today to be more energetic and "hands-on" in drawing up ideas to boost their enterprises and to make their communities better places to live in.

"In this country we are very good at looking at drawing up strategic plans but other European countries are more hands-on and really get on with carrying out projects," said Farmers' Union of Wales vice president Glyn Roberts.

He was speaking after attending the recent Wales Rural Network launch conference which enabled rural practitioners to meet each other and begin the process of networking and exchanging ideas about the Rural Development Plan (RDP) for Wales 2007-2013.

Representatives of organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors with an interest in agriculture and rural development were joined by guest speakers from Slovenia and the Irish Republic.

"The guest speakers were far more energetic about drawing up and carrying out various projects but in our country our energies are used far too much on strategic planning," said Mr Roberts.

The RDP, with £795m in funding, consists of four main parts - Axis 1 (with an £89m budget) is mainly about increasing competitiveness in farming, forestry and food processing, Axis 2 (£594m budget) focuses on conserving our landscape and environment, Axis 3 (£75m) aims to improve everyday life and diversify the rural economy and Axis 4 (£32m) is about helping people develop their communities.

"During the conference there was much talk among the 150 delegates of more cohesion between the four Axes and moving some monies between Axes," said Mr Roberts.

"The Welsh Assembly Government is good at working out a strategy for this and a strategy for that but I would like to see more bonding between the various axes and strategies."

Conference speakers shared their experiences of networking and good practice and delegates attended workshops to give their opinions on how they would like to see the Wales Rural Network progress.

Based in Northgate Street, Aberystwyth, the network team is getting underway on a wide range of activities to support it aims to share good practice and promote co-operation.

Some areas of work planned over the course of the RDP period include:

* Establishment and support for groups on key topics within the RDP, incorporating cross-Axis working where appropriate.

* Set up of a website, database and partner search tool to support communications and co-operation within the rural network.

* Provision of training, mentoring, support and information for local action groups.

* Support for inter-territorial and trans-national working.

* Helping with the establishment of the UK Rural Network.

If you have any suggestions for successful networking, contact the Wales Rural Network team at ruralnetwork@wales.gsi.gov.uk or on 01970 653934 with any comments or queries.

The Welsh Assembly Government was urged by Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today to adopt a policy urging supermarkets to stock more Welsh produce and encouraging shoppers to buy local.

Speaking at the union's annual farmhouse Breakfast at the Assembly, Mr Vaughan welcomed rural affairs minister Elin Jones' decision to use the event to highlight the importance of buying local food.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to remind her that the FUW launched its 'Buy The Welsh One' campaign at the 2007 Royal Welsh Show after Defra released figures revealing a dramatic drop in self-sufficiency in UK food and drink products over the previous 10 years.

"Nowadays increasing numbers of FUW members and supporters are producing food and drink products and adding value to their own food. There is a growing number of farm-produced quality products now available at farmers' markets, corner shops and on the internet.

"But, sadly, the consumer has to search for such products in most supermarkets even though there is an increasing awareness amongst these huge retailers that they are morally bound to offer local products.

"The FUW welcomed the Assembly's support when Wales was declared the world's first Fair Trade Nation last June. The achievement followed a two-year campaign by the Wales Fair Trade Forum, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

"Its aim is to increase the availability of Fair Trade products in towns, cities and counties across Wales, and to encourage schools, businesses and other organisations to switch to Fair Trade."

Mr Vaughan told those present at the breakfast that last December the FUW and the Wales Fair Trade Forum (WFTF) teamed up at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair to promote fair prices for food producers in Wales and throughout the developing world.

"We should all be proud that Wales is the first Fair Trade Nation but that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what needs to be done to ensure all producers are paid a fair price for their goods, allowing them to operate sustainably, regardless of where in the world they farm."

Mr Vaughan added that the FUW and WFTF support the key message: "If you can't buy local produce, buy Fair Trade produce".

"This is an important message for farming families and the wider general public. We should all think before we buy.

"A farmer who wants a fair price for his lambs in the market should also want a fair price for coffee farmers in other countries. The two principles should go hand in hand.

"So I urge the Minister today to follow the FUW's example. The Welsh Assembly Government beat us to the punch in their support of Fair Trade products but now I challenge them to catch us up and give more encouragement to the public sector to Buy The Welsh One."

The Farmers' Union of Wales' dairy committee chairman today welcomed the launch of Tesco's national dairy centre in the Wirral and called on the supermarket to consider assisting a similar centre already set up in Wales.

"The Tesco Dairy Centre of Excellence at Liverpool University's Wood Park farm is a welcome development as it will bring together experts from across the dairy sector to look at issues from animal welfare to consumer trends," said Eifion Huws.

"But I would also urge Tesco to think about making a financial investment in Wales' Dairy Development Centre at the Gelli Aur Farm and Technology Centre near Llandeilo which has been going since January 2002.

"It aims to facilitate the development of the Welsh dairy industry through a proactive technology transfer service; market information; demonstrating best practice methods of production; and research and development."The centre has a network of demonstration and development farms to help get best practice methods and new technologies to farmers throughout Wales," Mr Huws, an Anglesey dairy farmer, added.

"Its two development farms aim to demonstrate research work on a commercial scale, illustrate sustainable husbandry, compare various dairy systems and publish physical and financial results.

"The demonstration farms are commercial working farms demonstrating better practice methods of varying dairy production systems whilst maintaining a viable farming business. The centre is financed by the Assembly's Farming Connect scheme and DairyCo."

Tesco say their project builds on many unique initiatives such as Local Choice milk and the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group which illustrate its commitment to the dairy industry.

The new centre will bring Tesco, farmers and dairy experts together to work on issues facing the industry and help to build a more sustainable dairy industry in the UK.

Some of the key areas it will look at are:

· Ways in which to help farmers to deliver commercial benefits on farm

· Exploring consumer trends and product innovation

· Animal welfare

· Environmental best practices

· Milk quality

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan has protested to the European Commission Office in Wales after Irish farmers demanded a sterling equalisation scheme to make them more competitive in the export market.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and Irish Exporters' Association (IEA) have formed a partnership to urge the Irish department of enterprise, trade and employment to introduce a scheme which would allow farmers to trade at a guaranteed rate of 80 pence to the euro.

The call comes in response to a weakening pound that has made the importation of Irish meat into the UK less lucrative than in previous years. The euro is now worth around 96p, compared with 72p at the end of last year and 60p in March 2000.

But today Mr Vaughan said such a move would make a mockery of the principles upon which the Common Market and European Union were established.

"A sterling equalisation scheme would amount to export subsidies being applied to trade between between Member States and I expect the EC to give short shrift to the proposal.

"The UK agricultural industry has suffered for many years due to the strength of the pound, while importers into the UK have benefitted. Now the exchange rate favours domestic production our competitors want to distort the market back in their favour.

"I have already raised this issue with the EC's Office in Wales and urged them to dismiss out of hand any prospect of an equalisation scheme."

In January to October 2008 UK exports of fresh and frozen beef rose by around a third to 64,000 tonnes compared with the same period in 2007, while exports to the Irish Republic rose by 70 per cent.

UK sheep meat exports to the Republic also rose by two-thirds during the same period, while UK exports to France rose by a quarter.