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Wales Farmer 8


WALES FARMER CONTACTS


Publisher: Nigel White nigel.white@


walesfarmer.co.uk


Managing editor: Holly Robinson holly.robinson@ walesfarmer.co.uk


Farmer editor: Rhiannon Llewellin 01437 761759 wfeditor@


walesfarmer.co.uk


Reporter: Debbie James 01646 661395 info@debbiejames media.com


Advertising: Anthony Couzens 01437 761775 anthony.couzens@ walesfarmer.co.uk


● Interested in becoming acommunity farming correspondent? Email wfeditor@ walesfarmer.co.uk or call 01437 761759 to find out more.


We want to hear from you!


OPINIONS May 2013 By Debbie James


their bare hands to pull sheep from deep snowdrifts was astark reminder of just how challengingproducing food can be. It made it all the more galling to then read that up to half the food we buy is binned or ploughed back into the soil that gave it life. Could it be that our throwaway consumer culture undervalues food? It is an interesting


Farmers deserve a fair shareofthe loaf T


HE upsetting imagesofWelsh farmers using


analogy to compare food and fuel waste. Fuel is expensiveand there is no waste; whereas food is cheap so we feel we can affordtothrow it


away. The average British family spends only 11% of its budget on food, which explains why it is not valued more highly. With the shift away from small shops on the High Streettolarge-scale supermarkets, we have lost the sense of value of food. Over alifetime an average household will throw away up to £24,000 worth of food. If farmers were paid a fair price and food was more expensive there would undoubtedly be less waste. But with


fiercecompetition among retailersthis is unlikely to happen. Some food never even gets beyond the field. Up to three quarters of vegetables grown in Britain ends up never being eaten because large volumes are left in the field or are rejected by supermarkets. Last week Ilistened to Peter Kendall, the presidentofthe National Farmers’ Union,being interviewed about the implications to the consumer of apoor wheat harvest. Britain


will becomeanet importer of wheat for the first time in a decadebecause of bad weather. Wheat, it transpires, represents just 10% of the cost of every loaf of bread,so consumers are unlikely to noticemuch of a difference,even if imported wheat cost manufacturers twice as much. How fair is it that the industry responsible for producing food – namelyfarming –is entitled to such a small slice from that loaf?


Lookingtocreate vibrantand viable places PLANNING matters


“OUR vision is that every- body in Wales should live in well-connected vibrant, viable and sustainable communities with a strong local economy and good quality of life.” Vibrant and Viable Places,


Welsh Government. Sitting alongside the planning


hear it –straight from the horse’smouth! You can send your stories and pictures on any agricultural-related matter,from showing success, top mart prices and diary dates to your equestrian or countryside news. In the upcoming editions we’d also like to feature your readers’ letters, so if there’ssomething you want to get off your chest now’s your chance.Toget in touch, email wfeditor@wales farmer.co.uk or call the Wales Farmer newsdesk on 01437 761759.Please note, photographs should be sent as .jpg files, at least 1MB in size.


H


AVE you got any farmingnews? If so, we want to


system, the Welsh Government has aseries of regeneration pro- grammes,manyofwhich are funded by the European Union. To facilitate various growth and investment funds,the Welsh Government sets out an over- arching regeneration framework which sets out the keypriorities forlower tier local authority, thirdsector organisations and/or action groups to adopt in the interests of creating vibrant and sustainablecommunities. The most recent regeneration


framework identifies the Welsh government’scurrent


DIARYdates May


3rd: Gwynedd Welsh Pony &Cob Breeders Association social evening and quiz, venue TBA. Gwen Hughes, 01286 830254 or hughessuper nurse@aol.com. Web: gwpcba.com. 3rd: Bangor-on-Dee races, evening meeting and countryside raceday, Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse, Wrexham, LL13 0DA, from 4.45pm. First race 5.45pm. Falconry, Wynnstay Hounds, ferret barrel and terrier racing. www. bangorondeeraces.co.uk. 4th: Tredegar Farmers point to point, Lower


pro-


In his regular column for Wales Farmer, WAYNE REYNOLDS, director of Atriarc Group, reviews the recent Welsh Government Regeneration Framework proposal


gramme of activities,for exam- ple the Communities First fund, Structural Funds and perhaps morefamiliar to the farming community,the


Rural


Development Plan. While the newframework document identifies the need to improvethe regeneration of


Machen, near Newport. On A468 at Lower Machen (junction 28, M4). 4th: Glanusk Welsh Stallion Show, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. Contact 01597 810 487. 4th: Carmarthenshire YFC County Rally, Carmarthen Martground, Nantyci, Carmarthen. 6th: Banwen Miners hunt point to point, Pentreclwydau, west Glamorgan. Near A465, midway between Neath and Merthyr Tydfil. 6th: North Shropshire point to point races, Eyton-on-Severn, Shropshire. 10th: Farming Connect demo farm open day, Rhosferig Farm, Builth


rural and semi-rural areas,at this stage,little information is givenoverhow this maybe achieved. Avariety of emerging govern-


ment programmes are, however, identified, forexample the Sustaining aLiving Wales green paper.While still in the early


Wells, LD2 3PT, 2pm. Lindsay Davies,


lindsay.davies@mentera busnes.co.uk. 11th: Brightwells Royal Welsh Spring Sale of Welsh ponies and cobs, their part-breds and geld- ings, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. Contact 01568 619 777. 15th: Pig and Poultry LIVE 2013, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ, 9am-5pm. 18th: Gelligaer Farmers point to point, Lower Machen, near Newport. 18th: St Clears YFC Agricultural Show, United Counties Showground, Nantyci, Carmarthen. Livestock classes, displays, shopping,


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


stages of development, the green paper is to focus on futureenvi- ronmental and natural resource planning, establishing the overall objectiveswith communities to enhance the local environment. Anew round of Structural Funding is also proposed, aimed at encouraging innovation, tech- nological development and employment across Wales.While funding formajor regeneration programmes often takes prece- dence (due to the greater impact on the local community), the document clearly identifies the importance of recognising the challenges faced by rural com- munities to maintain and encouragehigh quality,vibrant living environments,while pro- tecting local character. An integrated


holistic


approach to development is being promoted to ensurethat creating successful communities encompasses social well-being, economic growth and the


refreshments and entertainment. Contact general secretary Alison Ebsworth, 07870 390734, email info@stclearsyfc show.co.uk or go to www.stclearsyfcshow.co. uk.


18th-19th: Royal Welsh Spring Festival. Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. Showcase for smallholding, gardening and sustainable living. Contact 01982 554 409 or go to www.rwas.co.uk. 21st: NSA Welsh Sheep 2013, Beili Ficer Farm, Llansawel, near Llandeilo. 23rd: NBA Beef Expo 2013, Three Counties Showground, Malvern WR13 6NW. Go to www.beefexpo.co.uk.


enhancement of the built and natural environment. Twokey organisations are


identified: the Centrefor Regeneration Excellence Wales (CREW) and the Design Commission forWales (DCfW). Forany readers interested in community initiatives, both organisations have awealth of information availableonline. The DCfW is also currently developing atownshapers’ guide which will be published in the spring. The timetablefor implementa-


tion of the framework extends to April 2014. Further information will be made availableshortlyfor various grant applications. However,itisworth noting that acommunity innovation grant is due to open forapplications in May2013. Forfurther


details or enquiries contact Wayne


Reynolds on 01994 220 667 or email wayne@atriarcgroup.com.


25th: Clwyd WPCA sale of Welsh ponies, cobs and part-breds, Ruthin livestock mart. Schedules and entry forms: Audrey Weaver, 01824 750256 or morwynponies@aol.com. 25th: Montgomery YFC County Rally. 25th: Cothi Bridge Show, The showground, Cothi Bridge, Carmarthen. Agricultural show with classes for horses, cattle, sheep, companion dog show, craft displays and ladies section, various tradestands and more. Contact secretary@cothi bridgeshow.co.uk, ring 01267 253455 or go to the website. 27th: Pembrokeshire Hunt point to point, Trecoed, Letterston.


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