July 2009 Archives

MAE aelodau Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru ar draws Meirionnydd wedi cyfrannu bron £1,000 er mwyn darparu'r Fedal Ryddiaith a gwobr o £750 i'r ennillydd yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn y Bala wythnos yma (Awst 1-8).

Bydd ceremoni'r fedal ryddiaith yn digwydd am 4.30yp, dydd Mercher, Awst 5 ac roedd yn rhaid i'r ymgeiswyr gyflwyno cyfrol o waith ar y thema "gwead".

"Danfonon lythyr at yr aelodau yn gofyn am gyfraniadau at gyfer y wobr urddasol iawn yma, a llifodd yr arian i mewn,"dywedodd Huw Jones, Swyddog Gweithredol sir Meirionnydd UAC.

"Rwy'n hynod o ddiolchgar i bawb am eu cyfraniadau tuag at un o brif wobrau'r eisteddfod a gobeithiwn y bydd yn mynd i ennillydd teilwng iawn."

Mae croeso cynnes yn disgwyl aelodau, cefnogwyr a ffrindiau ar stondin UAC (Rhif 641-642) ar y Maes lle bydd llu o ddigwyddiadau'n cael eu cynnal drwy gydol yr wythnos.

"Mae'r stondin mewn lle hwylus gerllaw'r prif bafiliwn ac yn gyfle gwych i daro draw am baned a sgwrs wrth fwynhau'r nifer o arddangosfeydd a digwyddiadau yr rydym wedi eu trefnu," dywedodd Mr Jones.

Trwy gydol yr wythnos bydd eisteddfodwr brwd, Aeryn Jones o Ddinmael ger Corwen yn dangos ei gasgliad o hen offer amaethyddol a bydd hyn yn sicr o fod yn destun sawl sgwrs.

Hefyd, bydd yna arddangosfa o luniau aelodau UAC gan Chris Clunn, ffotograffydd proffesiynol sydd bellach yn byw ym Maentwrog.

"Enghraifft yn unig yw'r lluniau o waith a diddordeb Chris Clunn ac mae'n barod iawn i ymweld a thynnu lluniau aelodau eraill o'r Undeb o fewn Meirionnydd unrhyw amser yn y dyfodol" meddai Mr Jones.

Bydd Rhian Owen o Aberdyfi yn bresennol ar y stondin dydd Llun a dydd Mercher i ddangos sut mae torri oen i fyny. Mae Rhian yn gweithio'n llawn amser yn siop y teulu, sef Cigydd Aberdyfi, ac mae wedi ennill y teitl o 'Gigydd Ifanc y Flwyddyn' trwy gydol Cymru yn 2006.

Prynwyd y siop gan ei thad, Dewi Owen sy'n aelod o UAC, a'r teulu, Fferm Esgairgyfela, Aberdyfi yn 2005, ac maent wedi ennill un o wobrau'r gystadleuaeth 'Gwir Flas' yn 2007.

Bydd Aled Owen, Penyfed, T Nant ger Corwen, y meistr ar drin cn defaid yn ymweld â'r stondin dydd Mercher. Mae wedi ennill nifer o wobrau gan gynnwys Pencampwr Byd Treialon Cn Defaid yn 2002 a 2008.

Dydd Iau, byddwn yn cael ymweliad arbennig gan un o ferched yr ardal sydd wedi dod yn enwog yn ddiweddar. Roedd Elin Haf Davies yn rhan o'r criw cyntaf o ferched i rwyfo ar draws cefnfor India mis diwethaf.

Roedd y merched, sy'n galw eu hunain yn "Ocean Angels" wedi ffurfio'r criw cyntaf i rwyfo'r 3720 o filltiroedd ar draws cefnfor India o Awstralia i Fauritius gan gymryd 79 o ddiwrnodau i wneud hynny.

"Maent wedi codi arian sylweddol i'r elusen "Breast Cancer Care" a bydd cyfle pellach i bobl gyfrannu at yr elusen bwysig yma yn ystod ymweliad Elin," dywedodd Mr Jones.

Hefyd Dydd Mercher, bydd Gwenan Pawee, sy'n wreiddiol o Fferm Llwyngwgan ger Llangwm yn dangos y grefft o nyddu gwlân, ac eto, bydd hyn yn sicr o ddenu llawer o ddiddordeb.

Bydd taflenni a gwybodaeth am yr elusen RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) ar gael trwy gydol yr wythnos i egluro'r gwaith a wneir a'r cymorth sydd ar gael i deuluoedd amaethyddol.

"Mae'r elusen yn derbyn cefnogaeth lawn UAC ac mae pob ymdrech yn cael ei wneud i roi cymorth mewn unrhyw fodd" ychwanegodd Mr Jones

NODYN I OLYGYDDION:

Am ragor o wybodaeth, gellid cysylltu gyda Huw Jones, sy'n siarad Cymraeg ar 07974 795778

FUW OFFERS WARM WELCOME AND HOST OF EVENTS AT EISTEDDFOD

Members of the Farmers' Union of Wales throughout Meirionnydd have donated nearly £1,000 to provide the prose medal and the winner's £750 prize-money at the National Eisteddfod in Bala this week (August 1-8).

The prose medal ceremony takes place at 4.30pm on Wednesday, August 5 and competitors were requested to submit a volume of work with "texture" as its theme.

"We sent a letter out to members seeking contributions for this very prestigious prize and the cash just rolled in," said FUW's Meirionnydd county executive officer Huw Jones.

"I am extremely grateful for all their contributions towards one of the eisteddfod's top awards and we hope it goes to a very worthy winner."

A warm welcome awaits members, supporters and friends at the FUW stand (No 641-642) on the Maes where a host of events will be staged throughout the week.

"The stand is situated in a convenient spot near the main pavilion and is an excellent chance to call in for a cup of tea and a chat at the same time as enjoying the numerous displays and events we have organised," said Mr Jones.

Throughout the week keen eisteddfodwyr Aeryn Jones, of Dinmael, near Corwen, will be showing items from his collection of old agricultural tools which will sure to be a major talking point.

Also, there will be a photographic exhibition of FUW members by Chris Clunn, a professional photographer who now lives in Maentwrog.

"The photographs are only a small example of Chris's work and interest and he would be more than happy to visit and photograph other union members within Merioneth any time in the future," said Mr Jones.

On Monday and Wednesday, Rhian Owen, from Aberdyfi, will be present on the stand to show how to cut up a lamb. Rhian works full time in her family's shop, Cigydd Aberdyfi, and won the title of Young Butcher of the Year throughout Wales in 2006.

The shop was bought by her father, FUW member Dewi Owen and family, Esgairgyfela Farm, Aberdyfi, in 2005 and they clinched one of the True Taste awards in 2007.

On Wednesday, Aled Owen, Penyfed, Ty Nant, near Corwen, an expert in the field of sheepdog trials will visit the stand. He has won numerous prizes as a trialist, including the world championship in 2002 and 2008.

On Thursday, there will be a special visit by a local girl who became famous recently. Elin Haf Davies was part of the first female crew to sail across the Indian Ocean last month.

The girls, who call themselves the "Ocean Angels", were the first crew to row 3,720 miles across the Indian Ocean from Australia to Mauritius, taking 79 days to do so.

"They have raised a considerable amount of money for the Breast Cancer Care charity and people will have a further opportunity to donate to this important charity during Elin's visit," said Mr Jones

Also on Wednesday, Gwenan Pawee, originally from Llwyngwgan Farm, near Llangwm, will demonstrate the craft of wool spinning and this again is sure to attract much interest.

Leaflets and information about the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) charity will also be available throughout the week to explain the work that it does and the help that is available to agricultural families.

"This charity receives the FUW's full support and every attempt is made to help in any way," Mr Jones added.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Welsh-speaking Huw Jones can be contacted for more details on 07974 795 778.

New full-time students will be have to write a 1,000-word essay on one of three topics about the future of Welsh farming suggested by the Farmers' Union of Wales which launches its annual £1,000 bursary at the National Eisteddfod in Bala.

The topics are:

* What challenges will climate change create for farming and food production in Wales over the next 50 years?

* What should the Welsh farming industry and government do to attract more young people into agriculture?

* How would you give the Welsh farming industry a facelift to attract more support and loyalty from the general public?

Last year the adjudicators decided to award £700 to the bursary winner, 39-year-old Aberystwyth University countryside management student Jon Paul Mccalmont.

Jon, of Llangammarch Wells, Powys, received his award from FUW president Gareth Vaughan on the union's stand at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair last December.

Born and brought up in Talybont-on-Usk, he had worked as a self-employed sub-contractor in the forestry industry before taking up a university course.

Two runners-up, who each received £200 cheques, were farmers' sons 18-year-old Roger Williams of Presteigne, Powys, and 19-year-old Guto Siôn Owen of Foel Gadeiriau, Llangernyw, Abergele, who are also both studying at Aberystwyth University.

Full details on how to apply for the bursary is included in a leaflet available from the FUW's head office in Aberystwyth or at any of the union's local branch offices as well as on the FUW stand at the Eisteddfod.

The closing date for applications is September 30, 2009.

BYDD rhaid i fyfyrwyr llawn amser newydd ysgrifennu traethawd 1,000 o eiriau ar un o dri pwnc ar ddyfodol ffermio yng Nghymru fel y gosodwyd gan Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru sy'n lansio'i bwrsariaeth flynyddol o £1,000 yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn y Bala.

Y pynciau yw:

- Pa sialensau bydd newid yn yr hinsawdd yn ei greu ar gyfer ffermio a chynhyrchiant bwyd yng Nghymru dros y 50 mlynedd nesaf?

- Beth ddylai'r diwydiant ffermio yng Nghymru a'r Llywodraeth wneud i ddenu rhagor o bobl ifanc mewn i amaethyddiaeth?

- Sut byddech yn mynd ati i roi gwedd newidiad i'r diwydiant ffermio yng Nghymru er mwyn denu rhagor o gefnogaeth a theyrngarwch oddi wrth y cyhoedd?

Penderfynodd beirniaid llynedd roi bwrsariaeth o £700 i Jon Paul Mccalmont, myfyriwr 39 mlwydd oed sy'n astudio rheolaeth cefn gwlad ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth.

Derbyniodd Jon, sy'n dod o Langammarch Wells ym Mhowys, ei wobr oddi wrth Gareth Vaughan, Llywydd UAC ar stondin yr Undeb yn Ffair Aeaf Frenhinol Cymru mis Rhagfyr llynedd.

Cafodd ei eni a'i fagu yn Nhalybont ar Wysg, a gweithiodd fel contractwr hunan gyflogedig yn y diwydiant coedwigaeth cyn dechrau ar ei gwrs prifysgol.

Roedd yr ail a'r trydydd gorau yn derbyn siec o £200 yr un, sef dau fab fferm, Roger Williams, 18 oed o Lanandras ym Mhowys a Guto Siôn Owen,19 oed o Foel Gadeiriau, Llangernyw, Abergele, ac mae'r ddau'n astudio ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth.

Mae manylion llawn ar sut i ymgeisio am y fwrsariaeth yn gynwysedig mewn taflen sydd ar gael o brif swyddfa UAC yn Aberystwyth neu oddi wrth unrhyw un o swyddfeydd sirol yr Undeb yn ogystal â stondin UAC yn yr Eisteddfod.

Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau yw Medi 30, 2009.

Westminster's environment, food and rural affairs committee's decision to examine the background and implications of Dairy Farmers of Britain's (DFB) collapse was described today as a significant move towards answering Welsh dairy producers' concerns.

"Many questions need answering following DFB's demise which continues to have a devastating impact for hundreds of affected farmers and former employees of the cooperative," said FUW milk committee chairman Eifion Huws.

"We therefore welcome this inquiry and plan to participate to clearly express our members' numerous concerns about DFB's demise."

The committee will consider:

- the impact of DFB's collapse on dairy farmers and the industry;

- the governance and accountability structures of DFB;

- Defra's response to DFB's collapse; and

- the causes and lessons to be learned from the collapse.

The committee has invited written submissions from interested parties by Monday August 31 and will accept further submissions after a receivers' meeting on September 7. A programme of oral evidence will be announced in due course.

Anglesey farmer Mr Huws was a member of an FUW delegation that demanded such an inquiry during meetings with Defra minister Jim Fitzpatrick and members of all political parties.

Speaking after a meeting at the Royal Welsh show with Clwyd West MP David Jones to discuss the matter, Mr Huws added: "DFB's failure created massive financial damage for farmers and employees throughout Wales and beyond with 1,800 farmers seriously affected.

"There is also grave concern that DFB's receivers may still pursue some producers who had effectively underwritten the cooperative.

"We hope the inquiry will bring much needed clarity in terms of the events that led up to this catastrophic collapse."

Mr Jones, whose constituency was one of the worst hit by the collapse, said: "A large number of questions arise as a consequence of the collapse of DFB and I am very pleased that the EFRA Select

Freelance agricultural journalist Meyrick Brown is the Farmers' Union of Wales Agricultural Journalist of the Year for 2009.

Meyrick, of Rhosgranog House, Llandeloy, Haverfordwest, has a lifetime's practical experience of dairy, beef and arable farming, drawing on his depth of knowledge to become a highly respected journalist covering a range of topical issues and farming industry developments, as well as highlighting farmer success stories.

He writes regularly for the Western Mail and Carmarthen Journal, provides a weekly column for the Observer series in Pembrokeshire and contributes to the Pembrokeshire Farmer, Pembrokeshire Life and Farmers Guardian. He has also assisted in TV and radio research.

In 2006 his "outstanding contribution to the promotion of agriculture in Pembrokeshire" was formally recognised and last year he received the Pembrokeshire Farmers Club Award "for services to agriculture".

Meyrick is married to Janet and the couple have two children - Helen, who is marketing manager for a company exporting medical products, and Angela, who is a ceramic artist and lecturer.

Announcing the winner, FUW president Gareth Vaughan said Meyrick was a very worthy candidate for the award.

"His aim is, and has always been, to widely promote all that is best in agriculture and to draw public attention to matters causing stress among vulnerable sectors of the industry."

The annual award - a shepherd's crook - is usually produced by prize-winning Aberystwyth crook maker Hywel Evans but in a departure from tradition Meyrick's crook was previously owned by S4C's Cefn Gwlad presenter Dai Jones, Llanilar, who donated it to a recent auction and knocked it down to the highest bidder - a member of the FUW staff.

The auction followed a successful charity golf competition at Aberystwyth Golf Club and helped raise £6,000 towards Ceredigion's host county appeal fund for next year's Royal Welsh Show.

The Farmers' Union of Wales has kicked off the debate on the future of Welsh Single Payments by releasing a detailed study of the current regime and possible future payment models.

The report, entitled "An Analysis of the Welsh Single Payment Regime and the Impact of Possible Flat-Rate Single Payment Models" is being launched at the Royal Welsh Show.

It provides detailed analyses of the way in which Pillar I Single Payments are distributed amongst Welsh farms and land types, and examines the possible impact of four possible single payment models.

Speaking following the launch, FUW President Gareth Vaughan said: "In the run up to last year's CAP Health Check agreement, we won a major victory for the Welsh industry by securing the retention of historical Single Payments for a number of years.

"However, the movement to flat-rate payments is inevitable, and we need to start looking at all the options in order to find the best solution for the Welsh industry."

The process of analysing possible Single Payment options has already been started by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), and a stakeholder group has been established to look at possible options for Wales.

"We have therefore built upon the work already done by WAG in order to alert the industry to what might be expected in future, by providing a detailed analysis of the status quo, and the possible implications of moves to different payment regimes."

The report reveals that the average payment per hectare for farm businesses currently receiving Single Payments above £16,000 is higher than for those receiving less than that figure.

"Current payments per hectare for those receiving below £16,000 are, on average, 18% below the Welsh average, and 25% lower than those received by claimants of more than £16,000, suggesting an inevitable movement of monies to smaller enterprises, irrespective of the final flat-rate model chosen," said Mr Vaughan.

The study also confirms that higher fertility land attracts larger payments, with average payments per hectare for non-Less Favoured Areas (LFA), Disadvantaged Areas (DA), Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA), and common land currently £224, £204, £145, and £117 respectively.

"This suggests that a single flat-rate payment for the whole of Wales would result in a fall in non-LFA payments of £25 million, which would have a catastrophic impact for lowland farmers."

Recipients of lower Single Payments are found, on average, to be more reliant on DA land, and less reliant on SDA and common land.

The four models studied are: a fixed flat rate payment per hectare, irrespective of land category; a model retaining the balance between all monies paid within and outside the LFA; a model retaining the balance between all monies paid within and outside the SDA, and a model retaining the balance between all monies paid on SDA, DA, non-LFA, and common land.

The report suggests that disruption for the industry as a whole is minimised by ring-fencing money currently claimed for each land category, and proposes a method of quantifying the disruption caused within each payment band.

"However, these are initial results, and further analysis is needed before any final conclusions are drawn," said Mr Vaughan.

"In particular, we need to assess the impact of different models on particular sectors and regions, before any decision is made regarding the model that should be adopted in Wales.

"While the Single Payment is the single most important source of income for Welsh farmers, we also need to take into account the implications of changes such as the forthcoming CAP and EU budgetary reviews, changes to the eligibility criteria for LFAs, and the impact of the new Glastir scheme."

Visitors to next week's Royal Welsh Show were urged today to look out for a big black cow and a purple parrot at the Farmers' Union of Wales' pavilion where youngsters can learn about farming and the countryside and have loads of fun at a special children's corner.

They can even have a go at "milking" the life-size model of a Holstein Friesian cow named "Mari Dilys" - on loan from the National Trust's Llanerchaeron farm estate near Aberaeron where next year's Urdd National Eisteddfod is being held.

The estate's Home Farm complex has an impressive range of traditional and atmospheric outbuildings and is now a working organic farm with Welsh Black cattle, Llanwenog sheep and rare Welsh pigs.

The FUW plans to have a stall at Llanerchaeron's "Learn About Farming Day" on Sunday, September 20.

"Meanwhile, Mari Dilys will help us to 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 very concerned that, according to the latest official figures, the number of dairy farms in Wales fell by 670 between 2004 and 2008. That is unacceptable and gives rise to serious worries about the sustainability of our dairy sector."

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.

She was frustrated that there were so few colourful teaching materials in Welsh so she and her husband, the former director of the University of Wales Centre for Educational Studies, produced a book ''First 100 words in Welsh'' which takes children on their first steps on the language learning ladder.

It was so successful it is now in its fourth reprint which encouraged them 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.

Meanwhile, all visitors can expect a warm Welsh welcome if they pop into the union's pavilion during the show to enjoy a free cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee and a biscuit.

They can also purchase more substantial meals in the spacious marquee at the rear of the pavilion where caterers, Gegin Fach y Wlad, of Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Pencader, will be preparing wholesome Welsh produce.

THE Farmers' Union of Wales will be on hand to give out Ordnance Survey (OS) grid references to Royal Welsh show visitors next week in an exercise that could mean the difference between life and death.

In a joint venture with Wales Air Ambulance, the FUW has produced cards with space for information such as a person's home postcode and OS grid reference. The card can then be kept near the telephone at the home address to be used in an emergency.

Due to Wales' scattered population and diverse landscape, many in Wales live in isolated locations far from an accident and emergency service and air ambulances can sometimes reach casualties far quicker than any other response team on the ground.

It is widely believed that a patient's chances of survival and early recovery are increased if they receive the right care within the first hour, otherwise known as the Golden Hour.

The quick response times and the expert medical care provided by the Wales Air Ambulance crews across Wales ensure that this Golden Hour is achieved every time.

Issuing the cards was the brainchild of the FUW's Caernarfonshire area officer Dafydd Jones, who lives in the remote village of Ysbyty Ifan, near Betws y Coed.

Following a talk with Tomos Hughes, of the Uwchaled first response team, the FUW printed the cards with the logo: " Ble Ydych Chi - Where are You" with a blank space to fill the post code and the Ordnance Survey grid reference.

Mr Jones said: "As people living in the countryside, especially in a remote part of Wales, we recognise the importance of the Air Ambulance service and also the region's police helicopter service. They have become a major part of the emergency services' response team.

"By now we all know of someone who has been in an unfortunate situation needing the service of the Air Ambulance, and if it wasn't for their quick response and the shortening of travelling time some of those people would not be here today.

"Indeed, the fast response of these services can be the difference between life and death."

A Wales Air Ambulance spokesman said: "Wales Air Ambulance helps to save time, and save lives. You can help too by knowing your grid reference.

"Time really matters in an emergency and Wales Air Ambulance can reach any part of the country within 20 minutes. The grid reference initiative from the FUW will also raise awareness of the work our air ambulance crews do in remote farming areas."

The first dairy cow to win a rosette at the Royal Welsh Show will be "Tegwen" who will be on display at the Farmers' Union of Wales pavilion alongside the main ring throughout the four-day event.

On the show's opening day (Monday, July 20), the rosette will be presented by Fair Trade Wales development officer Kate Meakin to FUW president Gareth Vaughan who will stick it on life-sized model cow "Tegwen" (Welsh for fair and white) resplendent in the green, white and red colours of the Welsh national flag.

The FUW is the first organisation to receive one of the big red rosettes being handed out at the show by Fair Trade Wales and Fairtrade Town groups in Powys to stallholders offering Fairtrade food and drink on their stall.

"The FUW is offering fairtrade tea and coffee to visitors to its pavilion during the show and this presentation also recognises the ongoing partnership between the union and Fair Trade Wales to fight for a fair deal for farmers everywhere," said Mr Vaughan.

"It is most appropriate for the rosette to be placed on ''Tegwen'' who has the message ''Llaeth Teg'' (Welsh for Fair Milk) emblazoned on her side to underline the FUW's ongoing campaign for a fair price to be paid to dairy farmers for their milk."

Miss Meakin said: "Fair Trade Wales is delighted to be presenting rosettes to those stallholders at the show who are helping farmers in developing counties get a fair deal through serving Fair Trade.

"Showgoers should look out for the big red rosettes with the ''Fairtrade'' mark which indicates the stallholder is offering tempting Fair Trade goods including tea, coffee, chocolate and fruit.

"We are encouraged that the Royal Welsh Show requests stallholders to use Fair Trade when possible and hope that they will go the extra step and, like the National Eisteddfod, adopt a Fair Trade policy which ensures that all tea and coffee on offer will be fairly traded."

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.

And during Fairtrade Fortnight (February 23 - March 8) the union's Anglesey county branch held a Fair Trade coffee morning serving Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits donated by the Co-operative store at Menai Bridge.

Mr Vaughan added: "The FUW and Wales Fair Trade Forum (WFTF) support the key message: ''If you can't buy local produce, buy Fair Trade produce''. We should all think before we buy.

"There need be no conflict between buying Fairtrade and buying local produce. Buy local meat, dairy, and other products to support your local economy, and buy quality Fairtrade coffee, tea, fruit and other products that can't be grown locally to help Fairtrade producers in the developing world get a fair deal.

"In tough economic times like these, buying local and Fairtrade goods is a sure way to get quality products, at a fair price, while knowing that you are also supporting sustainable community and environmental development that impacts on all of us positively in the long-run."

In July 2007 the FUW launched its "Buy the Welsh One" campaign, targeted at promoting local procurement. "By buying both locally grown and Fair Trade products consumers are choosing to give farmers a fair deal wherever they are," said Mr Vaughan.

"The vast majority of Fairtrade products can't be produced in this country, so when doing your weekly shop buy locally where possible and when buying imported goods like tea and coffee, buy Fair Trade."

The Farmers' Union of Wales has accused the Prime Minister of lacking interest in the plight of Welsh sheep farmers after he refused to condemn the EU for deciding to introduce the compulsory electronic identification (EID) of sheep after 2010.

Nearly 400 farmers and politicians have signed a petition on the 10 Downing Street website urging Mr Brown to publicly condemn the EU for its decision which will place UK farmers at an unfair disadvantage compared with importers into the EU who only have to comply with standards well below those required of UK farmers.

The petition, in the name of FUW vice president Glyn Roberts, states that compulsory EID means that the increasing financial and practical burdens placed upon UK farmers will put them at a competitive disadvantage compared with importers into the EU.

Copies of the petition, which calls on the EU to reverse it decision, have been signed by a further 400 FUW members at the union's 12 county offices throughout Wales.

The petition stresses the technology used for sheep EID has major flaws, including reliability, which brings into question the credibility of the decision.

It adds: "The Government should therefore fight for all the concessions permitted, while making it clear that the actions of the EC are premature, disproportionate, and unjust for the UK sheep industry."

But in a Government response to the petition the demand for the Prime Minister to publicly condemn the EU's decision has been ignored.

The Government merely admits it is concerned about the disproportionate costs and benefits of individual recording and points out that it has asked the European Commission to review the appropriate Regulation to check whether its objectives are being met in the most cost effective way.

It adds that new rules were agreed in 2003 in a bid to phase in improvements to EU sheep identification and tracking arrangements following the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak.

"Defra has worked very closely with the industry since 2003, when the Regulation was first adopted, and will continue to work closely with them with regard to implementation," states the Government's response.

"They have identified there are practical issues with implementation, and Defra will work with them to develop a system which is as practical as possible and that industry can make work."

Mr Roberts said: "Naturally, we are very disappointed by the Government's response and the Prime Minister's apparent refusal to condemn the EU's decision on this matter.

"It is well established that Ministers from all of UK's devolved regions are opposed to the Regulation, so why not speak out against the railroading of EID regulations by the EU?

"I fully appreciate that there are negotiations going on behind the scenes, but those should be based on the evidence and rational arguments put forward by the FUW and others over the years and if the Commission and Member States dig their heels in for political, rather than rational reasons, that behaviour should also be criticised.

"There is now widespread opposition to EID amongst sheep farmers throughout the EU, and it is about time somebody pointed out that the majority of EU farming ministers have failed their own farmers.

"Those in power should publicly speak out against this and the many other ridiculous and irrational Regulations we have to face, rather than being afraid to rock the boat."