May 2009 Archives

Farmers' Union of Wales vice president Brian Walters today warned the general public not to be misled by a leaflet entitled "Stop the barbaric and senseless badger cull".

Responding angrily to the Badger Watch publication, Mr Walters, an organic farmer from West Wales, said: "The leaflet is so wildly inaccurate it begs the question that it is either drawn up by people incapable of understanding simple facts or it is deliberately dishonest."

Following numerous complaints about the leaflet - published by Badger Watch and Rescue Dyfed and widely circulated in the Dyfed area - the FUW has posted a three-page factsheet on its website highlighting why it believes claims made in the document are "untruthful".

"As far as I'm concerned, Badger Watch Dyfed should withdraw the leaflet and issue a public apology," said Mr Walters

"We all have the right to express our views, but to publish such statements in order to get the general public to lobby politicians is disgraceful and in my view highlights the depths to which some people will stoop to mislead public opinion."

The FUW's factsheet, published in response to the leaflet campaign, claims that eight of the statements made in 10 "answers" to frequently asked questions are misleading.

Included among these are the claim that TB is spread almost exclusively from cattle to cattle, which the Advertising Standards Agency has already ruled breaches rules on "truthfulness" following a case brought by the FUW against the RSPCA more than three years ago.

The factsheet also highlights gross inaccuracies in the statistics used in the leaflet, stating that one figure quoted "is out by 500%".

"This is not the first time that an animal rights pressure group has been caught misleading the general public on the clear link between badgers, cattle and TB," said Mr Walters. "It is important that the general public scrutinise statements made by this type of organisation.

"Last year, Welsh families had to suffer the deaths of eight thousand cattle due to this disease epidemic, and it is high time that animal rights groups took their fair share of the responsibility.

"For years they have misled politicians and the general public into ignoring the epidemic in badgers, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of cattle, costing the taxpayer millions, and causing prolonged and agonising deaths for badgers.

"The majority of Welsh politicians from all parties have accepted the scientific evidence, and attempts to put the democratic process off course through campaigns of misinformation should be stamped out.

"To treat the general public with such contempt is frankly disgusting."

The FUW's detailed analysis of the Badger Watch and Rescue Dyfed can be viewed at www.fuw.org.uk

THE Farmers' Union Wales has met senior officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at its Aberystwyth headquarters to discuss global agricultural issues of mutual concern.

The talks, attended by FUW President Gareth Vaughan, US Counsellor for Agricultural Affairs Rodrick McSherry, and policy staff from the FUW and the USDA, covered diverse topics ranging from the future direction of World Trade Organisation discussions on agriculture to the impact of global warming on world food production.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Vaughan said: "The USA is one of the major players in terms of global agriculture and we clearly share many mutual concerns regarding the impact that future challenges will have on agriculture."

One of the main topics discussed was a recent deal struck between the EU and the USA that will allow the EU to continue its long-standing ban of imports of US beef treated with growth hormones while allowing an extra 20,000 tonnes of conventional US beef to be imported annually for the next three years.

The deal marks the most significant movement over the stalemate for more than 20 years and will see the amount of hormone-free beef imported from the USA rising to 45,000 tonnes in the fourth year. The US would also withdraw its threat to implement sanctions against different EU products every six-months.

"The impact that this agreement will have is obviously a concern and something that we will be monitoring" said Mr Vaughan.

"However, the bottom line is that allowing beef produced with the aid of hormones to compete against Welsh beef would be unacceptable."

Also discussed was the development of alternatives to fossil fuels.

"This is clearly an area where major advances are now being made and institutes such as IBERS at Aberystwyth are making important contributions to the development of new technologies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels," said Mr Vaughan.

"We were therefore interested to learn of how the new green agenda being implemented by President Obama is likely to impact on the development of technologies that will be essential to future agricultural production," added Mr Vaughan.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A picture of USDA and FUW officials is attached.

CAPTION From left: USDA Agricultural Marketing Specialist Jennifer Wilson, US Counsellor for Agricultural Affairs Rodrick McSherry, FUW Policy Director Nicholas Fenwick, FUW President Gareth Vaughan, FUW Policy Officer, Hazel Wright.

YOUNG visitors to next week's Urdd National Eisteddfod (May 25-30) in Cardiff were urged today to look out for a black and white cow and a purple parrot on the Farmers' Union of Wales stand (No 104).

And when they spot the life-size model of a Holstein Friesian cow named "Seren" - on loan from Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences - they can have a go at "milking" it.

"It will be an eye-catching attraction on our stand which will help us spread the message that Wales' traditional dairy farms, the backbone of our industry, are under threat from decreasing farm gate milk prices and ever-increasing production costs," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan.

"The FUW is most concerned that, according to the latest official figures, the number of dairy farms in Wales fell by 588 between 2004 and 2007. That is unacceptable and gives rise to serious worries about the sustainability of our dairy sector."

Meanwhile, the purple parrot is the logo of Atebol - an innovative business set up in a converted granary and implement shed on a former dairy farm, Fagwyr, Llandre, near Aberystwyth - which produces bilingual learning and teaching materials for the home, schools and colleges.

A selection of its products will be on display on the FUW stand where young visitors can help complete a giant jigsaw, designed for those starting to read in Welsh, and play a game promoting and developing early language skills in Welsh.

Atebol was set up over five years ago by FUW member Gillian Saunders Jones and her husband Glyn just before she retired from teaching at Penrhyncoch primary school, near Aberystwyth.

"I was so frustrated that there were so few colourful teaching materials in Welsh. The children were not too keen on going to the reading corner because there wasn't any material with the ''waw'' factor," she said.

"So we decided to produce our first book ''First 100 words in Welsh'' which takes children on their first steps on the language learning ladder.

"It has been so successful it is now in its fourth reprint which encouraged us to bring out ''100 First Farm Words'' to help young children and Foundation Stage pupils develop their vocabulary as they learn about the world around them."

Glyn, former director of the University of Wales Centre for Educational Studies, said they now also produce boxed language and thinking skills games and have just started an interactive project for dyslexic and special needs pupils.

"We have a range of 124 products and all our freelance designers, editors and proof readers are local people. We try to use Welsh and English in our products because very often you find that one parent can speak Welsh to their children while the other one does not.

"We have a series of books to help with the homework, magnetic books to learn how to tell the time and even books incorporating a blackboard complete with sticks of chalk," he added.

The company is shortly launching a new website (www.atebol.com) where its range of products can by ordered online.

DEWCH I CHWILIO AM Y FUWCH A'R PAROT AR STONDIN UAC YN EISTEDDFOD YR URDD

HEDDIW, mae ymwelwyr ifanc Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd (Mai 25-30) yng Nghaerdydd wythnos nesaf yn cael eu hannog i edrych am fuwch du a gwyn a pharot piws ar stondin Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru (Rhif 104).

Pan fyddant wedi gweld y model maint llawn o fuwch Holstein Friesian o'r enw "Seren", sydd ar fenthyg o Sefydliad y Gwyddorau Biolegol, Amgylcheddol a Gwledig, Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth, bydd cyfle iddynt i'w godro.

"Mae'n atyniad fydd yn dal sylw ar ein stondin a fydd o gymorth i ledaenu'r neges bod ffermydd llaeth traddodiadol, sy'n asgwrn cefn ein diwydiant, o dan fygythiad oherwydd prisiau llaeth wrth gât y fferm sy'n gostwng a phrisiau cynhyrchu sy'n cynyddu" meddai Gareth Vaughan, Llywydd UAC.

Mae UAC yn poeni'n fawr bod y ffigyrau swyddogol diweddaraf yn dangos bod nifer y ffermydd llaeth yng Nghymru wedi cwympo wrth 588 rhwng 2004 a 2007. Mae hyn yn annerbyniol ac yn codi pryderon dwys am ddyfodol cynaliadwy ein sector llaeth".

Yn y cyfamser, logo Atebol yw'r parot piws, cwmni newydd sydd wedi ymgartrefu mewn ysgubor a sied peiriannau trawsnewidiedig ar fferm a oedd yn arfer cynhyrchu llaeth sef Fagwyr, Llandre ger Aberystwyth. Mae'r cwmni'n cynhyrchu deunyddiau addysg a dysgu dwyieithog ar gyfer y cartref, ysgolion a cholegau.

Bydd detholiad o'i cynnyrch yn cael eu dangos ar stondin UAC lle bydd cyfle i ymwelwyr ifanc gwblhau jig-so enfawr sydd wedi ei gynllunio i'r rheini sy'n dechrau darllen yng Nghymraeg, a chwarae gem sy'n hyrwyddo a datblygu sgiliau iaith cynnar yng Nghymraeg.

Cafodd Atebol ei sefydlu dros bum mlynedd yn ôl gan aelod UAC, Gillian Saunders Jones a'i gër Glyn cyn iddi ymddeol o ddysgu yn ysgol gynradd Penrhyncoch, ger Aberystwyth.

"Roeddwn yn teimlo braidd yn rhwystredig mai ond ychydig o ddeunyddiau dysgu lliwgar oedd ar gael yn y Gymraeg. Nid oedd gan y plant lawer o ddiddordeb mewn mynd i'r cornel darllen oherwydd doedd dim deunydd yna gyda'r ffactor 'waw'" dywedodd.

"Felly, mi benderfynon gynhyrchu ein llyfr cyntaf "Geiriau 100 cyntaf" sy'n arwain plant ar eu camau cyntaf i ddysgu iaith.

"Mae hyn wedi bod mor llwyddiannus fel ei fod ar hyn o bryd ar ei bedwaredd ailargraffiad sydd wedi ein hannog ni i gynhyrchu "100 Geiriau Fferm Cyntaf" er mwyn rhoi cymorth i blant ifanc a disgyblion y cyfnod sylfaen i ddatblygu eu geirfa wrth bod nhw'n dysgu am y byd o'i cwmpas".

Dywedodd Glyn, sy'n gyn Gyfarwyddwr, Y Ganolfan Astudiaethau Addysgu Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth, ei bod nhw nawr hefyd yn cynhyrchu gemau sgiliau meddwl ac ieithyddol mewn bocs, a'i bod nhw newydd ddechrau prosiect rhyngweithiol ar gyfer disgyblion sydd â anghenion arbennig a disgyblion dyslecsig.

"Mae gennym ystod o 124 o gynnyrch ac mae'n cynllunwyr, golygyddion a darllenwyr proflenni annibynnol oll yn bobl lleol. Rydym yn ceisio defnyddio Cymraeg a Saesneg yn ein cynnyrch oherwydd yn aml iawn mae un rhiant yn medru siarad yng Nghymraeg gyda'i plant tra bod y llall ddim.

"Mae cyfres o lyfrau ar gael i gynnig cymorth gyda gwaith cartref, llyfrau magnetig er mwyn dysgu sut i ddweud yr amser, a hyd yn oed byrddau du a set o sialciau o fewn llyfrau" ychwanegodd.

Bydd y cwmni'n lansio ei gwefan newydd cyn bod hir (www.atebol.com) lle bydd modd archebu'r ystod o gynnyrch ar-lein.

Welsh dairy farmers have told Conservative politicians the EU's decision to scrap milk quotas by 2015 will have a destabilising effect on their sector of the industry.

Farmers' Union of Wales leaders delivered the stark message when they met Assembly shadow rural affairs minister, North Wales AM Brynle Williams, and Welsh Conservative candidate for the European Elections Kay Swinburne on the dairy farm of union members Harry Williams and his son Robin at Cilcain, near Mold.

A number of important issues were raised affecting the current problems in the dairy industry and Dr Swinburne pledged that if elected on June 4 she would keep in regular contact with the FUW and its members to work for the benefit of Welsh agriculture.

Brynle Williams said Harry and Robin Williams had invested heavily in their farm over the past few years but the problems facing the dairy sector - decreasing farm gate prices and increasing production costs - were making it difficult for them to make a sensible return on their investment.

FUW milk and dairy committee chairman Eifion Huws reminded the gathering that the union's president Gareth Vaughan had already called for a national debate on the impact abolishing milk quotas will have on the Welsh dairy sector.

Last November the 27 EU agriculture ministers agreed to lift quotas by one per cent per year before scrapping them altogether in 2014-2015.

"Mr Vaughan has also written to Assembly rural affairs minister Elin Jones informing her the issue has attracted growing attention on the Continent during recent months, and prompted significant debate at a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers," said Mr Huws.

"The FUW is well aware of growing concern amongst many farmers in Wales, and in other parts of the EU, that the full implications of the abandonment of the quota regime have not been properly recognised by the European Commission.

"Many believe that such a change would have a destabilising effect on an industry that is already suffering as a result of market volatility, and would have a particularly adverse impact for family farms.

"With the recent volatility of milk prices, there is a real need for the Welsh Assembly Government to engage in further discussions on the impact that abolishing the quota regime will have for the Welsh dairy sector," added Mr Huws, who runs a dairy farm on Anglesey.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A picture of the farm visit is attached. Caption - From left, Harry Williams, FUW Flintshire vice chairman David Roberts, Robin Williams, Brynle Williams, FUW Flintshire chairman Dei Davies, Eifion Huws and Kay Swinburne.

The Farmers' Union of Wales reveals its revamped website this weekend when a recruitment drive for new members will be launched at the Royal Welsh Smallholder and Garden Festival (Saturday and Sunday May 16-17) at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.

The new website - www.fuw.org.uk - features a special membership section with, for the first time, a full list of fees from as low as £10 for young members and £40 for associate members to £80 for farms of up to 25 acres and £350 for farms with an acreage of 750 or more.

Full and young members (sons and daughters working full time on the farm) are entitled to receive all literature and information issued by the FUW and shall be entitled to attend and vote at all local branch, county and general meetings of the union.

Members, and non-members, can also access all areas of the new website which includes the latest FUW press releases, consultation documents, policy statements and details of the union's Buy The Welsh One and Fairtrade Partnership campaigns.

There is also a special section for FUW Insurance Services - now supported by a panel of specialist agriculture and commercial insurance companies - and county-by-county details of how to contact the union's field force of 30 Area Officers (agents) and two Regional Managers.

Working closely with members, and non-members, they can quote competitive rates for all rural based businesses from farming and equine to contractors, builders, retail outlets, hotels and pubs, SMEs, leisure, let and vacant properties, forestry, commercial vehicles, taxi and motor hire and all diversified activity.

The new website also includes an events calendar and a link to the website of the union's monthly newspaper Y Tir/Welsh Farmer which is now also published in an online version for non-members to read at www.welshfarmer.com

Contact details of the FUW's 11 county offices and eight insurance services offices are also given.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Attached is an image of the homepage of the new FUW website www.fuw.org.uk

The only way long-term profitability of Welsh family farms can be achieved is by ensuring farm gate prices cover the cost of production, stressed the Farmers' Union of Wales while welcoming the Welsh Assembly Government's new farming strategy.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones launched the strategy "Farming, Food & Countryside - Building a Secure Future" on FUW member Wyn Hughes's family farm at Penantigi Uchaf, Dinas Mawddwy, near Machynlleth, which has a successful track record in diversifying its business.

The farm's enterprises include bottling and selling water from a natural spring running through their land, leasing out a plant to a local special needs charity, and owning and running the local Red Lion pub which sells their bottled water and produce from their organic farm.

"The FUW is pleased that many of its suggestions have been accepted in this report which outlines how the WAG will work to secure a sustainable future for farming, food and land based production industries, and the Welsh countryside environment up to 2020," said union president Gareth Vaughan.

The five key aims of the strategy are:

* Connecting to the marketplace;

* Producing sustainably and profitably;

* Safeguarding animal health and welfare, plant health and food safety;

* Sustaining our countryside;

* Encouraging innovation.

Mr Vaughan said a sustainable, profitable agricultural industry will provide wider benefits to the rural economy in terms of environmental protection and management.

"And, of course, the multiplier effects of farmers' spend within the local economy will help businesses and services to remain viable and culture to thrive in the rural heartlands.

"But there is growing concern about the security of food supplies globally. Poor harvests and increasing input costs, coupled with greater demand for food, have pushed up food prices and created instability around the world.

"Whilst the FUW accepts that the UK generally enjoys a high level of food security, there is a need for any strategy to recognise that the founding principle of the Common Agricultural Policy was to encourage food security within the European Union.

"Whilst times have changed and European agriculture is now part of a wider global market place, the need to ensure the availability, affordability and distribution of food remains a fundamental issue for any government."

Mr Vaughan said the FUW supports the principle of co-operatives and collaborative marketing. "Historically, procurement co-operatives (food and fertilisers) have proven to be more successful than marketing ventures.

"However, there are now a growing number of successful collaborative partnerships, and consideration needs to be given to how these successful co-operatives can be utilised alongside Farming Connect to provide mentorship and support to those who may be considering collaborative action."

Mr Vaughan stressed that the FUW strongly supports the development of a supermarket Ombudsman and welcomes the WAG's support for this initiative.

High-ranking military officers on a visit to the Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan's farm were urged to encourage the Ministry of Defence to buy more Welsh produce as a mark of support for farmers who allow their land to be used for training exercises.

Four influential representatives of the UK's armed forces were joined by eight colonels from forces around the world - including Malta, Serbia, Algeria, Chile, Tanzania, Unites States, Italy, and the Cameroons - on the visit to Mr Vaughan's 861-acre beef and sheep farm at Dolfor, near Newtown.

Mr Vaughan explained to the group from the Royal College of Defence Studies in London that farmers in many parts of Wales allowed military exercises on their land and the skies of Wales were regularly overflown by RAF jets on training missions.

"I told them we understood the crucial necessity for such training, especially when our forces are engaged in armed combat overseas, but at the same time we would like to see the Ministry of Defence procure more quality Welsh food, such as beef and lamb, from our farms.

"We understand the MoD spends £150m a year to deliver food to British armed forces around the world. Its contract involves the frequent delivery of 1,500 fresh, chilled and frozen food products to 1,200 military bases including the South Atlantic, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, the UK and Germany.

"As Welsh farmers all we are asking is a bit more fair play in response to our willingness to cooperate with the armed forces during their vital training for loyal service in countries around the world," said Mr Vaughan.

"After all, Napoleon Bonaparte once said: ''to be effective, an army relies on good and plentiful food''. Welsh farmers can certainly supply that," added Mr Vaughan, who presented FUW ''Buy The Welsh One'' shopping bags to the visitors.

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CAPTION: Gareth Vaughan (third from left) with the group of visitors from the Royal College of Defence Studies who visited his family farm.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today expressed strong disappointment at the Welsh Assembly Government's (WAG) monumental decision to scrap Tir Mynydd payments to farmers within Less Favoured Areas (LFA).

The union's sharp reaction followed the announcement by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones that there will be a shift in approach to land management schemes in Wales.

The Tir Mynydd scheme's objective is to support and maintain livestock production in the LFAs of Wales to avoid land abandonment and rural depopulation.

The current LFA payment, targeted at farmers who face socio-economic and natural handicaps, will be replaced by an optional scheme in which farmers will be paid for providing environmental goods and services.

From 2012, the five existing agri-environment schemes will be replaced by one scheme, Glastir, in an attempt to meet future environmental challenges.

Reacting to the announcement, FUW president Gareth Vaughan said LFA support - which covers 80% of Welsh land - had been available to the farming industry since the Second World War.

''The reason for LFA support is that climate, terrain and topography all place LFA farms at a major disadvantage in terms of food production.

"There is no doubt, therefore, that hill farmers will feel betrayed at the decision to abolish this support," added Mr Vaughan.

FUW senior policy officer Rhian Nowell-Phillips said: "As with the introduction of any new scheme the devil will be in the detail and tomorrow, at a meeting of the union's land use and parliamentary committee, we will be taking a closer look at the proposals and how they will be implemented.

"At first glance it seems the Welsh Assembly Government has given themselves a very ambitious timetable for the introduction of this scheme and, undoubtedly, we have concerns whether they can meet this deadline."

Wales today expressed strong disappointment at the Welsh Assembly Government's (WAG) monumental decision to scrap Tir Mynydd payments to farmers within Less Favoured Areas (LFA).

The union's sharp reaction followed the announcement by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones that there will be a shift in approach to land management schemes in Wales.

The Tir Mynydd scheme's objective is to support and maintain livestock production in the LFAs of Wales to avoid land abandonment and rural depopulation.

The current LFA payment, targeted at farmers who face socio-economic and natural handicaps, will be replaced by an optional scheme in which farmers will be paid for providing environmental goods and services.

From 2012, the five existing agri-environment schemes will be replaced by one scheme, Glastir, in an attempt to meet future environmental challenges.

Reacting to the announcement, FUW president Gareth Vaughan said LFA support - which covers 80% of Welsh land - had been available to the farming industry since the Second World War.

''The reason for LFA support is that climate, terrain and topography all place LFA farms at a major disadvantage in terms of food production.

"There is no doubt, therefore, that hill farmers will feel betrayed at the decision to abolish this support," added Mr Vaughan.

FUW senior policy officer Rhian Nowell-Phillips said: "As with the introduction of any new scheme the devil will be in the detail and tomorrow, at a meeting of the union's land use and parliamentary committee, we will be taking a closer look at the proposals and how they will be implemented.

"At first glance it seems the Welsh Assembly Government has given themselves a very ambitious timetable for the introduction of this scheme and, undoubtedly, we have concerns whether they can meet this deadline."

Farmers in Wales were urged today to get involved in the Environment Agency Wales (EAW) consultation exercise into river pollution issues affecting agriculture.

"EAW is keen to engage agricultural specialists, key industry advisors and the wider farming community in a series of workshops to explore diffuse pollution issues relevant to agriculture affecting the water environment in Wales," said Farmers' Union of Wales senior policy officer Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

Living Waters for Wales is a six-month consultation, which ends next month, in which draft River Basin Management Plans for the Dee, Western Wales and the Severn identify the best ways to create a better water environment.

"As there are implications for farmers it is important that we engage in the consultation process so that we can use local knowledge to identify target areas for priority or concerted action; deliver improvements to the plans; and help identify alternative measures if a particular issue appears to be disproportionately costly," said Ms Nowell-Phillips.

"For the first time ever, all issues affecting water can be addressed together to find shared solutions for improving water quality, supply, flood risk and reducing pollution. Water quality in Wales has improved considerably over the past 20 years but more still needs to be done.

"This is a great opportunity for farmers to be involved and ensure their water environment reaches an even higher standard."

The Better Waters for Wales workshops will take place on May 18 at the FUW head office at Llys Amaeth, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth; on May 20 at Glyndwr University, Mold Road, Wrexham; and on May 27 at Gelli Aur College Farm, Gelli Aur, Llandeilo.

Places are limited so to reserve your place contact Lynda Bigland on 01244 894554 or email lynda.bigland@environment-agency.gov.uk A detailed programme for the day will be sent to attendees nearer the time.

If you are unable to attend the workshops, you can complete an e-consultation response by going to www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd.

Should you require any information, contact Jill Brown on 02920 4166134 or in writing at Environment Agency Wales, Ty Cambria, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 OTP.