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Wales Farmer 8 DIARYdates


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WALES FARMER CONTACTS


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 manager: Freda Roberts freda.roberts@ walesfarmer.co.uk


Advertising: Aaron Byrne 01437 761768 aaron.byrne@ walesfarmer.co.uk


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


OPINIONS JANUARY 2014


Size doesn’tmatter when it comes to animal welfareissue


By Debbie James


THERE has been much written about the 1,000-cow dairy in Powys which can now be built six years after the farmer first submitted aplanning application. Ihave seen it described as ‘factory farming’ and a‘mega dairy’ and mostly preceded by the adjective


‘controversial’. But perhaps the word controversial is better reserved for dairy systems in Japan where cows are chained in their stalls 24/7. There is even an electric wire to prevent the cows arching their backs


when they go to the toilet. The size of the dairy at Leighton is the reason why it has been thrust into the media spotlight. In comparison, the herds in Japan are mostly around 70 cows. But the welfare needs of


these cows are no different, be they in a small or large herd. Scale is very much a factor in poultry production. Ihave visited several poultry farms –both free- range and cage systems –the latter now known as ‘colony’ systems since the European Union last year forced all farmers to move to the higher- welfare colony system. Under the old system, producers were allowed to keep 18 hens in one square metre. The new system allows for 13 hens in the same area, but the hens never leave their cage and are unable to walk more than afew feet. Last month aleading


chicken expert suggested that many free-range hens were no happier than those in colony cages. No system is perfect, each has its good and bad points, but what is interesting is that half of all the eggs consumed in Britain are free-range or organic. There are two key criteria that define hens as free-range under EU and British Lion guidelines. Firstly, they must have access to the outside. This is accomplished by opening aseries of hatches along the side of the hut during daylight hours. And secondly there must be no more than nine animals per square


metre. The cows tethered on Japanese dairy farms are being denied one of the Farm Animal Welfare Council’sfive freedoms -freedom to express normal behaviour -defined as the provision of sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’sown kind. In the poultry sector, surely only free-range birds can express the full range of natural behaviours for hens. We had afew hens once and they were forever foraging for natural foods, flapping their wings and dust bathing. That they couldn’thave achieved if they were confined to acage.


We want to hear from you! H


AVE you got any farming news? If so, we want to hear it –straight from the horse’s mouth! 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’syour chance. To get in touch, email wfeditor@walesfarmer.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.


City regionswillbenefit ruralareas too PLANNING matters


REGIONAL planning in Wales looks set to take on anew dimension in 2014. The creation of Welshcity regions has gathered


momentum


throughout 2013,both commercially and politi- cally, butwhat is all the


fuss about? The city region concept strives


to improveeconomic growth from infrastructureimprove- ments forexisting and newbusi- nesses.The terminfrastructureis relatively broad –for example: physical infrastructureimprove- ments in rail, road and telecom- munications. However,italso includes less


tangible investments in business services,supporting existing businesses and also assisting new


In his regular column for Wales Farmer, WAYNE REYNOLDS, director of Atriarc Group, offers and insight into the emerging city regions being developed across Wales.


businesses as they develop and expand in to the regions. The definition of acity region


has been hotlydebated, buttwo keyareas have nowbeen identi-


fied: south east Wales and south west Wales.While the termcity region implies an urban focus, large areas of rural countryside arealso defined. The south east


region essentiallyencompasses Cardiff, Bridgend, Newport and the surrounding valley commu- nities,whereas the south west region comprises Swansea, Neath-Port Talbot, parts of Powys,Pembrokeshireand Carmarthenshire. Aregion for north Wales hasn’t formallybeen identified, as questions have been raised as to whether north Wales has asufficientlylarge urban centreupon which acity region could be based. While urban centres will see


the initial benefits from any regional development pro- gramme,the rural economyalso looks set to benefit. Forexample, manyhavenoted thatregional growth will lead to an increased demand forlocal produce.The rural tourist economywill also benefit from city region market- ing campaigns aimed at attract-


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


ing national and international investors.Other benefits will also be derivedfromimproved trans- port connections fordelivery of goods and services.The south west region is also likelytobene- fitfromarural broadband pro- gramme to assist rural business growth. The creation of the city


regions also looks set to improve the wayinwhich local authori- ties collaboratewith one anoth- er.


However some sceptics have


identified thatitwill also pave the wayfor ministers to set about merging local authority services beforeeventuallymerging local authorities.For manythis is not such abad thing, although it does raise the question:0 will we see afundamental change in how the regulatory planning system in Wales is structured?


This is unlikelyinthe short-


term, butthereisalot of poten- tial forare-alignment of admin- istrative boundaries over the next five to ten years.Anupdat- ed Wales Spatial Plan could also playakey role in facilitating national transport infrastructure projects,along with greater guid- ance on wind farmdevelopment and energy generation. Regional collaboration is not anew con- cept, forexample manylocal authorities alreadysharelegal services and collaborateonwaste processing and minerals extrac- tion. Further collaboration on planning and heritage matters would also assist ensuring a moreconsistent approach to decision making. Forfurther details or enquiries please contact Wayne Reynolds on 01994 220 667 or email wayne@atriarcgroup.com.


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