Wales Farmer 2 THISmonth NEWS July 2012


Fast action urged on supermarkets pledge


By Debbie James


THE Farmers’ Union of Wales has urged the coali- tion government “not to drag its heels” over its promise to introduce a


Opinions ..........8 Planning .........12 Nostalgia ........16 Previews ......18-19 YFCs .........22-23 Food ............24 Crossword .......25 Crops ...........26 Machinery .......27 Equestrian .....28-29 Classified .....30-33 Countryside ...34-35


supermarket ombudsman. “In our efforts to end unfair


marketpractices,wehavebeen campaigning on this issue for morethan 10 years so we wel- come the government’sintention to introduce aBill to establish a Groceries Code Adjudicator to enforce the groceries code,” said FUW president Emyr Jones. Last year the union made rep-


resentations to Defrasecretary of state Caroline Spelman com- plaining it wasalmost five years since the Office of Fair Trading authorised an investigation by the Competition Commission which published its final report in 2008. The setting up of aGrocery


Supplycode of practice in February last year markedthe first of the keyremedies outlined in the report and the Government later announced it would set up an Ombudsman to oversee it.


MP says watchdog will have teeth


STEPHEN Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, welcomed the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that anew independent body will be set up to help prevent supermarkets from putting farmers and other food suppliers under undue pressure over contracts. All supermarkets with aturnover of over £1billion have to follow the Groceries Supply code of practice which outlines the correct ways that businesses should interact with each other. Howeversupermarkets have used their strong buying power to transfer excessive risk and cost to suppliers. The new body, the Groceries Code Adjudicator, will be established to seek to monitor and


“But twoyears after the first consultation on the introduction of an Ombudsman the industry still remains void of such a body,”said Mr Jones. “For good reason, Welsh farm-


ers,particularly dairy producers, believe


thatwithout an Ombudsman


enforce this code. It will act as an arbitrator in disputes between retailers and suppliers and will be able to launch investigations into breaches of the code. It will also ensure that suppliers can raise legitimate disputes confidentially without fear that they will be penalised for speaking up through lost business. Speaking from Westminster, Mr Crabb said: “Many farmers supply to our large national supermarkets and the new Adjudicator will help give them afairer deal. It will go some way to preventing unfair practices and increasing certainty for suppliers. Large retailers will not be able to take advantage of their position of power.”


the GSCOP


remains hollowand ineffectual. “Weurgethe Government not


to drag its heels over the estab- lishment of agroceries adjudica- tor with sufficient powers to address the concerns raised by the Competition Commission.”


NFU Cymru said the intro-


duction of an Adjudicator to ensurefairness in the supply chain came as arelief forfarm- ing, butwarned major improve- ments to last year’sdraft Bill were needed if it wastobeeffective. NFU Cymru’sdeputy presi-


dent Stephen James said: “We nowhope the Westminster Government will confirmits commitment to levelling the play- ing field in the grocery supply chain by introducing the Bill early in the newsession.”


Labour listens to the issues


NFU Cymru members in Glamorgan recentlymet Labour Party spokesman on food and farming, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, on-farmnear Bridgend. During the meeting, hosted by


the AnthonyfamilyofCwmrisca Farm,members took the opportu- nity to discuss anumber of issues with Mr Irranca-Davies,including the reform of the CAP,the chal- lenges facing Wales’ dairy farmers and the powerofthe supermarkets. Speaking after the meeting,


Andrew Edwards, NFU Cymru Glamorgan county chairman, said: “One of the most significant challenges facing Wales’ farmers over the next fewyears is the reform of the CAP. “Weare looking to politicians


at all levels to do all they can to protect the interests of Welsh farmers.” Mr Edwardssaid thatthe power


of the supermarkets continued to be ahuge concern to farmers and recent cuts in prices paid to dairy farmers had created an unsustain- able situation.


Praise for modern approach


AWELSH Government minis- ter has hailed aPembrokeshire potato farmasthe perfect exam- ple of afarmthateffectively combines food production and engagement with the local community. Environment minister,John


Griffiths,was at West Orielton Farm,Hundleton, to launch NFU Cymru’s‘WhyFarming Matters


to the Welsh


Environment’ booklet. The document focuses on the


influence Welsh agriculturehas on the environment and the need to secureasuccessful futurefor farming forthe sakeofthe countryside. Mr Griffiths said West Orielton Farm demonstrated howfarmers could work in har- monywith the environment and the local community. Farmer Walter Simon has cre-


ated public access on his land and has provided asite fora local primary school to utilise as awoodland school. The minister described the


approach as a‘very modern’one. “Walter has been able to main- tain the basic function of pro- ducing food while engaging with the local community,’’hesaid. Farmers manage morethan 80% of the land in Wales.


■ Community role earns ‘yes’ from minister


NFU Cymru president, Ed


Bailey,said the challenge forthe futurewould be forfarmers to increase food production while minimising their environmental footprint. “I’ve always believedthatthe


carrot is better than the stick and our farmers have voluntarily embraced high standards of environmental carethrough some excellent agri-environmen- tal schemes such as Tir Gofal,’’ said Mr Bailey. By the end of last year,45% of


Welsh farmland wasinanagri- environmental scheme and since 1999 therehas been arestoration of 3,120km of hedges and 325km of stone walls and other traditional field boundaries through Tir Gofal. Mr Bailey stressed thatitwas


paramount thatTir Gofal’ssuc- cessor,Glastir,was ascheme thatworkedfor farmers. “Then of course it will work


forthe environment and forthe Government,’’ he said.


FARMING MATTERS: Environment minister, John Griffiths (centre) is pictured at the document launch with host farmer Walter Simon and NFU Cymru president, Ed Bailey. PICTURE: Debbie James


Send your news to wfeditor@walesfarmer.co.uk 


£100 OFF


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk SummerOffer


Shearwell EID Stick Reader, was£550NOWONLY£450


Call us todayand quoteJWF SHEARWELL DATA


Tel. 01643 841611


‘KEEP YOUR PROMISE’: Emyr Jones.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36