30 Farming Farmers need small grant scheme LET me first of all wish you


all a very happy New Year! The county office has now re-opened and I look forward to seeing our members and helping them with their farming queries throughout the year. I have no doubt this one will be


as exciting as the last, with plenty of things happening at the FUW and of course also out on farm and our industry. Some of you may have started


the year with a New Year’s resolution - I know plenty of people who are aiming to get fitter, save money, do this and that, stop this, that and the other. However, rather than focusing on the negative habits we might have and hope to improve, let’s start this year by developing some positive habits - and one thing we can start with immediately is having breakfast. Breakfast is one of the most


important meals of the day, providing the body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast. Without breakfast you are effectively running on empty, like trying to start the car without petrol, it’s not going to give you the best start to the day. And if, like some of us, you


have overindulged a little bit over the festive period, then you will be pleased to hear that research has shown that those who eat breakfast regularly are less likely to be overweight. It might even help you to lose a few extra pounds, because if you have breakfast you are less


likely to reach for high sugar and fatty snacks mid-morning. On that note, I would like to


invite you along to the breakfasts we are holding at the end of the month - It would be great to have you at our table:


Ceredigion -


Thursday, January 26, Neuadd Goffa Felinfach, Lampeter.


Friday, January 27, La Calabria, Rhydgoch, Ffostrasol, Llandysul.


Carmarthen -


Thursday, January 26, Pontiets Rugby Club.


Friday, January 27, Pumpkin Patch, Carmarthen.


Pembrokeshire - Friday, January 27, Crundale


Hall, Cardigan Road, Crundale, Haverfordwest.


There is one thing we should all


realise - by the time we get up for breakfast in the morning, we have already relied on half the world to feed us. So, let’s appreciate the food security we have in this country and thank those farmers who get up earlier than most of us to milk the cows for the milk in our tea and coffee, look after the pork for our bacon and sausages, chickens for the eggs, cereal for the bread, etc. Give us a quick call or come to


see us in the county office for a chat about our breakfast functions - we look forward to seeing you!


Farmers up against the clock: Perkin Evans, NFU Cymru MEMBERS of NFU Cymru’s


Combinable Crops and Horticulture Working Group have expressed their frustration that a small grants scheme is not currently available under the Wales Rural Development Programme (RDP). Perkin Evans, Chairman of NFU


Cymru’s Combinable Crops and Horticulture Working Group, said: “Progress with rolling out the Wales


THE FARMERS' UNION OF


WALES (FUW) has welcomed Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths’ support for it’s call for an overarching UK framework for agricultural policy with appropriate flexibility for devolved regions. Speaking during a panel discussion


at the Oxford Farming Conference, Mrs Griffiths highlighted the fact that key areas of agricultural policy had been devolved to Wales since 1999, but that a UK framework which respected devolution was needed. Speaking from the conference,


FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “I welcome our own Cabinet Secretary’s support for the FUW’s policy position published last year.” The panel - comprising Defra


Minister George Eustice; SNP Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson Calum Kerr; Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Environment


RDP has been slow and with Brexit now on the horizon, we are up against the clock. We really need to see new impetus from the Welsh Government when it comes to rolling out the RDP in Wales and we must make the best possible use of the time we have left to participate in European programmes, to prepare the industry for the challenges that lie ahead. “The RDP must deliver for as


and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths and Northern Irish Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Michelle McIlveen - generally agreed that the devolved regions should work together to develop some form of mechanism to prevent distortion between agricultural producers in different regions. However, Mr Roberts expressed


concern that the Welsh Cabinet Secretary did not explicitly support SNP spokesman Calum Kerr’s call during the debate for current agricultural and rural development spending to be at least maintained post 2020 until alternative means of sustaining farm incomes became apparent. “Mr Kerr highlighted the


importance of direct support and maintaining the current budget to Scotland and its farmers, and Wales is in a very similar position in terms of the reliance of our rural businesses and economy on the current allocation,”


many farmers as possible and needs to have a broad reach, with simple and straightforward processes for accessing funds. We believe that the introduction of a small grants scheme, to help farmers invest in the latest equipment and new technology, could help farmers across all sectors in Wales. “A small grants scheme would be


of significant interest and benefit to Welsh arable producers in supporting our sector to invest in things such as precision farming technology, minimum tillage and soil aeration equipment; investments that improve productivity on farm and also help the industry meet our environmental and climate change obligations.” Mr Evans concluded: “RDP funds


have the potential to make a significant contribution to farm businesses across Wales; these are the businesses that underpin the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of Wales.


“NFU Cymru is more than willing


to work with Welsh Government in implementing the RDP schemes therefore I urge Welsh Government to work with the Union to deliver what the industry needs.”


FUW welcomes Cabinet Secretary’s support


said Mr Roberts. “The economic and social


arguments in favour of maintaining the Welsh budget for agriculture and rural development into the future are no different to those in Scotland." Mr Roberts said that Welsh Farm


Business Survey results show every pound given in direct support for Welsh farming generates many more in terms of employment and payments to other businesses. “The figures also show that


without direct support via Pillar 1 most businesses would not survive, meaning the loss of a multi-billion pound multiplier effect that brings vast benefits to Wales’ economy. “Wales needs to take a strong


position on maintaining the budget, just as it did during the negotiations over the CAP budget - or risk a net fall in our overall funding allocation, with dire knock-on effects for our entire economy,” he added.


THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72