NFU Cymru held its Celebration of Welsh Food and Farming reception, kindly sponsored by Andrew RT Davies MS, at the Senedd on Wednesday 23 September. The event provided a platform for four farmers from across Wales – one each representing the livestock, dairy, arable and poultry sectors – to detail their day-to-day farming lives.
Each farmers’ address was complemented by a video case study, providing the Members of the Senedd (MSs) in attendance with a window into food production on farms all over Wales.
Dairy
First to address the audience was NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Annie James, who runs a 150-cow dairy herd in partnership with her husband and daughter. Annie documented the challenges facing the business amid a changing climate, rising input costs and increased animal disease prevalence, describing bovine TB as ‘a disease that strikes at the heart of the livestock industry in Wales’. She said she remained buoyed by the sector’s prospects for the future, with potential new markets on the horizon.
Livestock
With stock grazing nearly 3,000ft above sea level on the Aran Fawddwy mountain in the Eryri National Park, Emlyn Roberts explained the importance of hardy native Welsh Mountain ewes and Welsh Black to his farming enterprise.
The fourth generation to farm at Esgair Gawr, near Dolgellau, Emlyn stated that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events presented additional challenges in farming an area that can be, at times, a harsh and unforgiving environment. He also called for further evolution of the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Looking forward, Emlyn told the audience that growing global demand for high-quality protein meant that there could be a prosperous future in the uplands for young farmers in Wales.
Crops
Next up was Pembrokeshire arable farmer Jason Llewellin, who described the wide variety of crops grown on his farm and the end markets they were destined for. He also highlighted his use of on-farm technology in maximising yields, whilst also prioritising soil health through managed tillage and cover cropping.
While Jason acknowledged that the hot, dry summer had impacted productivity, he said that the West Wales climate meant farms, like his, were well placed to continue to grow good crops and contribute to the UK’s food security.
During his speech, Jason told MSs that commodity sale prices and input costs in the crops sector were acutely impacted by geopolitical instability. Jason ended his address by imploring Welsh Government to ‘push the boundaries’ and develop arable cropping and soil health measures within the optional layer of the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Poultry
Finally, poultry producer Sian Davies told the audience about the world-leading innovation that underpins the high standards of animal welfare observed by Welsh poultry businesses. Sian spoke passionately about the stability that the poultry diversification had provided to her family’s traditional beef, sheep and arable farm, and others like it, in Mid Wales.
She said these ventures have allowed many young farmers to remain in the area, boosting the local economy, ensuring the vitality of local schools and community services and helping the Welsh language to thrive.
With consumer demand for poultry meat continuing to grow, both at home and further afield, Sian says the long-term outlook for Welsh poultry farms was promising. She finished her address by asking MSs to address the planning and permitting issues that have resulted in costly and lengthy application delays and limited the sectors’ aspirations.
She stated that confidence was important to all farming businesses and that the right signals from government would support Wales’ food security and boost rural communities.
Speaking after the event, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said:
“I am thrilled that so many MSs have attended our event today to hear the perspectives of our four farmers representing the rich tapestry of businesses and farming sectors we have here in Wales. Our speakers are among the thousands of farmers across the country who are helping to drive the rural economy and care for our cherished landscapes and environment, all whilst being the lifeblood of their local communities, preserving our language and culture and – most importantly – keeping the nation fed.
Passion and positivity
“Whilst Annie, Emlyn, Jason and Sian have all shared some of the respective challenges their businesses face, they have all also demonstrated their resilience, adaptability and desire to seize future opportunities. They are each a prime example of the unabated passion and positivity within Welsh farming driving the sector forward.
“Agriculture has always been an intrinsic part of Wales’ history and cultural identity. At NFU Cymru, we firmly believe that Welsh farmers can be at the vanguard of a prosperous future for Wales, too.
I have no doubt that the MSs who joined us today could not fail but to have been inspired by the entrepreneurship and positive, progressive outlook displayed by our members. I implore MSs across all parties and constituencies to share our forward-looking vision for growth.
Work with us enable to enable Welsh farming to realise its ambitions and deliver for the benefit of people and communities across Wales.”
