Wales Farmer February 2013 NEWS


350 abattoir jobsatrisk on Anglesey


■ Fury as Asda ditches major lamb processor


AMAJOR lamb processing plant on Anglesey could be forced to shut, with the loss of 350 jobs, after it was ditched as asupplier by


Asda. The supermarketwas akey cus-


tomer of Welsh Country Foods at Gaerwen, butwhen it decided to source its lambs from an alternative supplier,the plant’sDutch parent group Vion UK entered into a90- dayconsultation with staffonthe futureofthe facility. The news represents asevere blow


to the Welsh lamb industry,which has suffered aterrible year due to the bad weather and has seen prices plummet this winter. NFU Cymru president Ed Bailey


said: “This winter has been one of the worst possible forour farmers and this,alongside the recent col- lapse in prices,isdevastating news.” Welsh Country Foods is the last


major processing plant in north Wales,handling 64,000 lambs ayear. Farmers’ Union of Wales presi-


dent Emyr Jones urged the Welsh Government to ‘seek an equitable outcome forthe sakeofthe island of Anglesey and the Welsh food and farming industry as awhole’. Anglesey beef and sheep farmer


Dafydd Roberts,chairman of the FUW’slivestock, wool and marts committee,said: “Hopefully, discus- sions with Asda will lead to achange in their decision, butifnot then it will be imperative to attract newcus- tomers to the site. “It is important thatanegative


impact on jobs and the local econo- my is minimised.” AWelsh Government spokesman


‘Long-term damage to Welsheconomy’


DAIDAVIES, chairman of HybuCig Cymru –MeatPromotion Wales (HCC), said the closureofWelsh Country Foods would be a‘hammer blow forthe entirefood and farming industry in Wales’. He added: “HCC hopes thatasolution can be found to save Welsh Country Foods and the hundreds of jobs of the workers whodepend – both directlyand indirectly–onthe plant fortheir livelihoods,” said Mr Davies. “It is extremelyunfortunate thatthe companyhas been forced to enter


into the 90-dayredundancy consultation exercise because of akey cus- tomer’sunexpected decision to end its contract with Welsh Country Foods. “Welsh Country Foods is acruciallyimportant part of the Welsh red


meatindustry.Itisthe last remaining major abattoir in north Wales,and as such plays avital strategic role in serving farmers in the region. “Wewill not onlylose hundreds of jobs butwewill also lose the


facilities provided by the plant itself –which include slaughtering, boning and retail packaging which all addvalue to the final product. Closurewill cause long-termdamage to the economyofWales.”


said the news was‘very disappoint- ing’, especiallyasa‘substantial offer of support’ had been made to devel- op the site. The spokesman added: “The offer


of support remains on the tableand maybeextended to anypotential newowner. “The Welsh Government will be discussing this development with the chairman of Vion UK Ltd and will also engage with the site’skey cus- tomer to ensurethatthereisaclear understanding thatWelsh Country Foods has the full support of the Welsh Government.” Unite,Wales’ largest union, has


pledged to work ‘strenuously’ to see if anew business plan can be pro- duced to save the jobs under threat. AndyRichards,Unite Wales sec-


retary,said the news wasasad start to the year forthe economyinnorth Wales. “Weneed investment, not cuts to


jobs in Wales and Iwill be raising this matter urgentlywith the Welsh Government,”headded.


Unite national officer forthe sec-


tor,Julia Long, added: “The knock- on effect forthe local economycould be severe,asthereare limited alter- native employment opportunities on the island.” She urged Asda to re-think its ‘misguided strategy’ and work with Vion to establish aviablefuturefor Welsh Country Foods. Suppliers to Welsh Country Foods


will be paid forsheep supplied dur- ing the 90-dayconsultation period. The announcement came at atime


of greatuncertainty forworkers at the plant, after Vion announced in November thatitwas selling its 38 plants in Britain to focus on its core operations in Europe. The Dutch company’sfacilities in


Merthyr Tydfil, Flintshire, Anglesey and Wrexham employmorethan 3,300 workers. At the time,Vion said it wascon-


fident it could sell the sites as viable businesses and the Welsh govern- ment said it would work to help any buyers of the sites.


Jolly goodfarmingfellows


FOUR associates of the Royal Agricultural Societies in Wales have been made fellows.:


Ellis Davies Merlands, Llanrhidian, Gower MRDAVIES became an associate in 2007 forhis contribution to plough- ing and his work in encouraging and training Welsh competitors to com- pete against the best ploughmen in the world. He is amember of the WorldPloughing Association and has recentlybeen appointed to the boardofdirectors of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.


Glasnant Morgan Talybont-on-Usk, Powys Mr Morgan has made amajor con- tribution to farming in the Brecon area. He farms 370 acres in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons and is aformer winner of the Farmers Weekly‘sheep farmer of the year’ award. He wonthe Welsh and UK Grassland and Environmental award in 2005 and in 2008 he wasthe win- ner of FWAG Cymru National Grid Silver Lapwing Farm Conservation competition. He is amentor forthe Young Entrants Support Scheme,


AFOUNDER member of a pioneering group to help guide farmers through agricultural bureaucracy has been made an associate of the RoyalAgricultural Societies. Robert Ryan Owen, of


Penywaun, Trap,Llandeilo,helped set up the Carmarthen Farm Liaison Team, which has led to a closer and moreunderstanding relationship between farmers and the Welsh Government.


whereheshares his 40 years farming experience and expertise in grassland management and conservation.


Twynog Davies Frondolau, Pentrebach, Lampeter AFORMERrural enterprise adviser of Adas,MrDavies ranthe agricul- tural leader 1programme with Antur Teififollowing his retirement, giving consultancy and training courses for farmers.Aformer president of MerionyddYFC,hehas trained young people in stockjudging, public speaking and manygroups of musi- cal competitors in both the YFC and Urdd.Hehas been honoured with


Associateship has also been


granted to Gary Yeomans,ofPant Farm,Llanvetherine,Abergavenny. In 2002, Mr Yeomans diversified


into producing goats’ milk, beginning with aherdof100 young goats in 2002. Todaythe herdhas expanded to 500 goats. Mr Yeomans is aformer


chairman of The FutureFarmers of Wales and Gwent YFC and a past winner of the Wales Management Competition.


the ‘white’ robe of the National Eisteddfod forhis services to the communityand Welsh culture.


Lynn Davies Pentremeurig Farm, College Road, Carmarthen MR DAVIES wasmade an associate in 2007. Aprogressive dairy farmer, he has been actively involved with the United Counties Agricultural Society for45years,particularly in the development of its permanent showground. He is chairman of the Welsh Dairy Showand aformer president


of Carmarthenshire Chamber of Agriculture. For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk Cattle disease warning


WELSH cattle farmers need to be moreaware of the impact of adevastating viral infection, asurvey has revealed. AFarmers’ Union of


Wales (FUW) survey of thousands of Welsh cattle farmers showedthatalmost half included Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD) infection in their farmhealth plans. “However,moreneeds to


be done to raise awareness of the economic impacts and welfareissues caused by this virus,” saidFUWsenior policy officer Hazel Wright. BVD is widespread in the


UK and the Wales Animal Health and WelfareStrategy Steering Group (AHWSSG)


has made it apriority forthe dairy and beef cattle sectors in Wales. Dr Wright, whoalso rep-


resents the FUW on the AHWSSG,said: “Infection with BVD can cause anum- ber of health problems including reduced concep- tion rates,protracted calv- ing periods,increased abor- tion rates,stillbirths and deformed and weak calves. “The economic losses of


an uncontrolled BVD out- break can thereforebesub- stantial.” BVD infection also leads


to asuppression of disease resistance allowing calf pneumonia and diarrhoea to be moresevere,resulting


in greater losses. Dr Wright


added:


“Infection in the first third of pregnancyisespecially concerning because devel- oping calves thatsurvive will remain persistently infected (PI) with BVD.PI calves often appear healthy butthey will shed the virus throughout their livesand arethereforeamajor source of spread forthis virus.” Dr Wright urged farmers


to discuss the disease with their vettoaddress any potential risks as part of their herdhealth plan. At the end of last year,a


Wales BVD sub-group was established to further the work of the AHWSSG.


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