Wales Farmer July 2012 NEWS Protest campaign urged over drop in milk prices


NFU Cymru is urging Welsh dairy farmers to lobby their local political representatives and milk buyers to take urgent action against the recent cuts in milk prices. Anumber of milk buyers have cut prices and NFU Cymru fears that many Welsh dairy farmers will be forced out of the sector due to unfair milk contracts and commercial practices iunless urgent action is taken.


Aled Jones, who farms at Hendy, near Caernarfon, and chairs NFU Cymru’s milk board, said: “To our dismay anumber of our milk buyers have been able to cut their milk prices and this is a problem which, for too long, has effectively forced Welsh dairy farmers out of business. “NFU Cymru has lobbied endlessly regarding milk contracts, which currently offer


no certainty or clarity on the price dairy farmers are paid for what they produce. “The current system means that many dairy farmers are locked into deals lasting up to ayear which provide no escape clause even if the price they receive is reduced. “Politicians need to recognise that the Welsh dairy sector possesses many advantages, for example, it is well placed to


expand production in a sustainable manner and given the challenges of feeding agrowing global population of nine billion people in 2050, dairy farmers should be strategically important to society’s future.” Mr Jones added: “Frustratingly the dairy market is not working, which means that dairy farmers are losing out and going out of the industry and that’s why we are urging our members to call on


their AMs, MPs and milk buyers to take urgent action to eliminate unfair commercial practices and improve milk contracts. “A ‘do nothing’ approach will see dairy farmers continue to be deprived of their fair share of profits in the food chain. “This will lead to underinvestment, lower milk production and will mean that dairy farmers continue to leave industry at an alarming rate.”


Senedd sheep statue in search of support


By Debbie James


WALES has more sheep than people but should this symbol of the region’s farming life be honoured with astatue outside the Welsh Government build- ing?


AWelsh vicar thinks so and is


leading acampaign to have a sculptureerected at the Seneddin Cardiff. RevChristopher Trefor Davies


argues thatsheep areasymbol of farming life in Wales and thata statute would makea“statement of support forWelsh agriculture’’. He has issued apublic petition


calling forthe installation. “Webelieve thatthe major role


of farmers and rural life in Wales should be honoured in Wales’ highest democratic forum,’’ he says in his submission. And he adds: “The Welsh Sheep


Association Society brings togeth- er both sheep farmers and others with aconcern forthe traditional agricultural methods.Wewould point out thatformer drovers’ road towns alreadyhavesuch statues.’’ The petition has passed the 10-


signaturethreshold thatobliges the Assembly’s petitions commit- tee to consider it and support is growing.


Key role for TB review dissident


THE leader of one of Wales’ regional TB eradication panels, whowithdrew his support fol- lowing the decision to halt the planned badger cull, has been appointed to akey position in a group thatassists the Welsh Government on animal health and welfare. Peredur


Hughes,who


remains as chairman of the North Wales TB Eradication Board, has been appointed as the newchairman of the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) Steering Group. Mr Hughes,who runs abeef


and sheep farmonAnglesey and is aformer president of NFU Cymru, will servefor an initial termofthree years. The


3


appointment was


announced by environment minister,John Griffiths. “I value the steering group’s


role as akey forum focused on raising standards of animal health and welfareinWales and look forwardtoworking with the chair and group in the future,’’ he said. The steering group wasestab-


What’s your view?


Is asheep agood symbol for Welsh farming? Or is it just material for some more baa-d jokes? Would other figures, like ashepherd or border collie, do abetter job of representing us? email: wfeditor@walesfarmer.co.uk


Floodoftenant farm openings THE Tenant Farmers


Association wasinundated dur- ing Maywith information about farms and land to rent. TFAchief executive George


Dunn said: “I have been with the TFAfor over 15 years and I’ve neverknown amonth likeit! Manyofthe opportunities come from county council estates. “This is aclear sign thatcoun- ty council smallholdings can and


do continue to offer opportuni- ties while providing vital resources to fund other county council, front-line services.” In


Pembrokeshirethe


National Trust is offering an equipped holding on 100 acres and thereare also holdings in Surrey and Oxfordshireof between 70 and 100 acres. The TFAcollates information about farms and land to let in a


dedicated area of its website for TFAmembers to access. “Not onlydoes the TFArepre-


sent tenant farmers it is also an advocate forthe tenant farming system,”said Mr Dunn. “It is thereforegreat to see so


much land being offered to let. The TFAalso continues to argue forlonger lengths of termtopro- vide asustainableplatformfor farmtenants to invest forthe


future. “Wewould encourageall land-


lords to consider at least a10- year horizon when offering land to let,”said Mr Dunn. “The TFA would also encouragelandlords and their agents to be cautious when considering the tenders submitted by potential tenants. “Of late,accepted tender rents


forfarmbusiness tenancies have been at eye-wateringlyhigh and


unsustainablelevels. “They might look attractive to


landlords in the short-termbut they cannot leave asufficient margin forthe sound manage- ment of their holdings into the long-term. “Thereforewewould urge


landlords and their agents not to look forthe highest rents butto set rents at sustainablelevels for the long term.”


lished in 2004 to advise and assist the Welsh Government on arange of keyissues thatimpact on animal health and welfare. The group has 17 members


whorepresent the industry in Wales,including Wales’ chief veterinary officer,Professor Christianne Glossop. Last year Mr Hughes,togeth-


er with the chairs of Wales’ two other TB eradication boards, said they felt “entirelybypassed and badlymisled’’ by the Welsh Government’sdecision to review the science behind the TB eradi- cation strategy and withdrew their support forthese boards. In aletter to John Griffiths,


they expressed their ‘bitter dis- appointment’ over the review. Thatreviewhas since led to a decision


by the Welsh


Government to adopt abadger vaccination policy.


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