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Wales Farmer APRIL 2014 NEWS


The drive is on to find more people with the Fferm Ffactor


THE first female winner of popular S4C farming challenge series Fferm Ffactor has driven away with her prize, as the search for the next cham- pion gets underway. Gwenno Pugh, aged 28, farms


sheep, cattle and pigs with her hus- band Gwion on their farm in Talsar- nau, near Harlech, and also helps her father, Selwyn Hughes, on his farmat Tyn Llan, Penmynydd, Anglesey. She said: “I entered the competi-


tion just hoping to become the first female contestant to reach the final, but to go the extra step and actually win was an unbelievable feeling.” Gwenno won a new Isuzu D-Max


Yukon 4x4 and has driven it away with free insurance for a whole year - thanks toFUWInsurance.


“We’re pleased to be associated


with Fferm Ffactor and Gwenno’s fantastic achievement, and sponsor- ing the insurance on her new Isuzu is part of our determination to support young farmers across Wales,” said Farmers’ Union of Wales north Meirionnydd area officer Eirian Lloyd Hughes. Winning a quad bike race during


the series also paid offfor fellow Fferm Ffactor contestant Dylan Jones. Dylan, aged 42, a part-time farmer


from Bodffordd, Anglesey completed the course quicker than any other con- testant to win a new Yahama Grizzly 450 EPS ATV farm bike, a Logic OXR off-road trailer and a year’s worth of insurance, courtesy of FUW


Insurance. The search is now on to find more contestants eager to be crowned Wales’ top farmer. Applicants or those wishing to


nominate a friend or relative are urged to get their nominations in early. Applicants will need to be aged 18


or over and have a passion for coun- tryside issues, as well as some farming experience. Filming is due to begin in late


spring, with the series back on screen in the autumn. To apply or nominate a friend or


relative, contact the Fferm Ffactor team at Cwmni Da, Doc Fictoria, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SR, call 01286 685300, or visit the website www.s4c.co.uk/ffermffactor.


Rural funding options open


THE Welsh Government has set out a range of funding options that may help farm- ers claw back some of the modulation cash stripped


from their direct payments. Under CAP reform, Wales’ farm


minister, Alun Davies, agreed to switch 15% from direct support to fund the Rural Development Pro- gramme (RDP). There is nearly £1bn in the RDP


pot and Mr Davies is asking farmers and others howthey think the money should be shared. Mr Davies has launched a consul-


tation and among the options includ- ed was funding that would help farm- ers diversify into non-farming activi- ties such as renewable energy. There could also be funding for


programmes that help to diminish plant and animal diseases and for a revised and more flexible Glastir land management programme.


By Debbie James Sixty per cent of the RDP will be


spent on land-based activities. Mr Davies insists Pillar 2 funding


must be used to deliver economic and environmental benefits to rural com- munities. “This budget will provide a rural


development fund large enough to offer support to the farming industry in ameaningful and sustainable way,” he said. The minister added that he wanted


to provide a strong focus on building resilient businesses while creating a healthy natural environment to drive rural economic growth. But Plaid Cymru says consultants


mustn’t be the main beneficiaries of the biggerRDPbudget. The party’s Minister for Sustain-


ableCommunities, Energy and Food, Llyr Gruffydd, said: “We very much hope that the proposed new pro- grammewill see reduced bureaucracy


and a much simplified process of delivery. An increased budget must not mean a heftier slice of the cake for consultants, but more money for action to support communities on the ground.” This view was echoed by CLA


Cymru director Ben Underwood, who said: “We must make sure that this money goes directly into the pockets of land managers, foresters and farmers rather than into wasted bureaucratic schemes that do little for the rural economy.” The consultation, which is avail-


able on the Welsh Government web- site, will run until April 10th. The Farmers’ Union of Wales is


urging farmers to make their views known. FUW land use and parliamentary committee chairman Gavin Williams said: “It is vital that farmers get engaged in the process to help shape the proposals which could benefit their businesses.”


Search for enterprising farmers


FOLLOWING the success of last year’s Farmer Enterprise competi- tion, the search is nowon for the next five teams to compete for the title. Five teams of three farmers will compete against each other to pro-


duce a profitable pen of Welsh Mountain lambs grazed on a crop of their choice at Henfaes Research Centre in Abergwyngregyn. Farmers of any age, registered with Farming Connect, who live and work


in Wales can apply. Application forms can be down-


loaded from www.menterabusnes.co. uk/farmingconnect/farmers-enter- prise-competition. The deadline for applications is April 24th.


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PRIZE DRIVE: Gwion Lockett, of R. J. Williams Ltd, Isuzu dealership at Talsarnau, with FUW area officer Eirian Lloyd Hughes and Fferm Ffactor 2013 winner Gwenno Pugh at the wheel.


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


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