Wales Farmer 4 NEWS Farmers’ Union of Wales annual conference JANUARY 2014 Aberystwyth, November 25th


Technologyhas leading role to play in the future


Conference hears call for caution on renewables


AGRI-TECHNOLOGY development has been named as akey factor that will drive the growth and productivity of Wales’


farming sector. Emyr Jones,president of the


Farmers’ Union of Wales,said improving agricultural produc- tivity wasachallenge because of rising global demand forfood. “While adverse weather condi-


tions and other factors,such as diseaseoutbreaks,will have a short-termimpact on productiv- ity,itwill be the longer-term advances and developments in agri-technologies thatwill have an impact on the growth, pro- ductivity and success of the sec- tor as awhole,” Mr Jones told the union’s autumn conference at Aberystwyth. Technological advances in


HELPING RUN BETTER BUSINESSES: Thomas Allison, pictured above on his stand at this year’sRoyal Welsh Show, says properly integrated farming systems can make farm businesses more efficient.


TIME TO EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY: FUW president Emyr Jones (right) says agri-technologies are key to the future success of the Welsh farming industry.


CONFERENCE CALL: Farmers were warned to be selective when it comes to renewable energy proposals by one of the speakers at the FUW annual conference.


PICTURES: Debbie James.


agriculturewerenot the result of adopting a‘one-tool’ technique, he added, butapackage of tech- nologies to suit different farm types and systems.


By Debbie James The conference theme was


technology andresearch, featur- ing speakers on arange of topics including performance record- ing, renewableenergy and advances in meatgrading. Among the speakers was


farmer’sson, Thomas Allison, whoruns athriving business developing, installing and main- taining computerised dairying systems,based at his family home at Sychpant Farm,at Rhoshill, near Cardigan. He said farmers needed to


improvetheir on-farmsystems to makesurethattheir business is running as efficientlyaspossi- ble.


“Properly integrated comput-


erised systems can help do that and through newtechnology, such as herdmanagement soft- ware,farmers can save alot of time and generatebetter returns,” he said. One of Thomas’ develop-


ments is asystem to recorda cow’stemperatureduring milk- ing, create areport at the end of the milking session, pinpoint any thatare running at ahigher level than normal –and informs the parlour operative. This data can then be used to


alert the farm’svet to cows that could be suffering from mastitis or other production-affecting problems,allowing treatment


often beforeany serious signs become visible. Liverflukewas also on the


conference agenda. Dr Russell Morphew, of the Institute of Biological and Environmental Research


(IBERS) at


Aberystwyth, whoisworking on aproject to develop aliverfluke vaccine,said arecent immunotherapytrial in goats had demonstrated asignificant reduction in the levelofliver lesions. “Immunotherapyisideallythe


gold standardbecause thereare no residues,” he said. Therewerewords of caution


on one of farming’sbiggest growth sectors –renewableener- gy –with land agent Philip Meade suggesting thereweretoo manysalesmen and not enough independent advisors.Although thereare good opportunities for farmers,MrMeade warned them to be selective.And if they opted foranexclusivity agree- ment, they should ensurethat the agreement wasshort and not restrictive. “Manydevelopers employ


agents to sign up farmers.These agents arepaid to get farmers to sign options,they arenot there to represent the best interest of the farmer,” he said. Rental incomes varied, but


farmers should expect at least 8- 10% of the gross income,Mr Meade added.


Project amongfirst to fence off funding


APROJECT to find an alterna- tive to traditional fencing forpro- tecting young trees and water bodies from farmanimals is one of the first to be awarded funding from anew programme. Natural Resources Wales


(NRW) has secured £160,000 from the Welsh Government’s newSmall Business Research Initiative


Programme fora£191,000 project to develop acost effective and sustainableway to protect newly- planted trees from hungry ani- mals.


The project also includes fenc- ing offriverbanks,ascurrently


(SBRI) Catalyst


16% of Wales’ water bodies fail to reach the Water Framework Directive target of “Good Status” because of pollution from agricultural activities,including livestock poaching, erosion of riverbanks and poor manage- ment of slurry. Fencing offriverbanks can


also prevent stock access and ero- sion, both of which increase the risk of sediment and pollution entering the watercourse. Emyr Roberts,chief executive


of NRWsaid: “Werecognise that traditional fencingcan be an expensive and short-termanswer to the problem and we need to


develop acheaper,moresustain- able solution to protecting water courses and trees from grazing animals. “Weare pleased to be amongst


the first to receive this grant and welcome the opportunity to explorenew ideas within the pri- vate sector which will help to ben- efit the environment and local communities.” The Welsh Government and


TSB has committed support for projects totalling £2.4million as part of the SBRI Catalyst Programme in 2013/14 and 2014/15.


Farmwatch scheme nears 200 membersinfirst year


ALMOST 200 people have joined aFarmwatch service since its launch less than ayear ago. Set up in February by police


officers working in rural areas of north Powys and NFU Cymru, the Farmwatch scheme in the Llanfyllin and Welshpool area warns farmers of anylocal crime and offers crime prevention advice.Members of the scheme receive alerts and text messages to advise them of anysuspicious activity in the rural and outlying


GET IN TOUCH:


areas,mostlyrelating to people and vehicles. Welshpool NFU Cymru


group secretary,Steve Kenyon said: “Therehas been agood takeupofthis scheme by local farmers and crime is being pre- vented as aresult. 185 farmers arenow members of the scheme butweare always looking for morenew members to join. “In order forustoeliminate


rural crime altogether,all farm- ers must work together.With


everyone working together it will allowustohaveextraeyesand ears on the ground looking out forthe culprit.” The scheme is free to join and


anyone wishing to become a member can contact Steve Kenyonon01938 552272 or email: steve_kenyon@nfumutu- al.co.uk, or contact PCSO Gary Gwilt at Welshpool Police Station by calling 101 or email: gary_gwilt@dyfed-powys.pnn. police.uk.


Email your farming news and pictures from across Wales to wfeditor@walesfarmer.co.uk or log on to walesfarmer.co.uk


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


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