Young farmers key to future success

The FUW believes cooperation among young farmers will be of growing importance to achieve economies of scale in marketing their produce to powerful organisations such as the supermarkets.

Welcoming last week's launch of a Welsh Assembly Government consultation on support for young farmers, I agreed that we must encourage co-operation between young farmers to foster relationships that will last well into the future.

The FUW has pushed for a scheme to help new entrants get a foothold on the ladder of the agricultural industry and last year members voted in favour of using modulated funds for support. So this consultation is welcome news and we will be consulting members on the best option for the future prospects of our young people.

During the Royal Welsh Show, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said encouraging young entrants to the industry can bring innovation and enthusiasm to farming. The publication of the consultation meets a One Wales commitment to support young entrants to farming, and includes proposals on how to use £163.2m of funding available from 2010.

Meanwhile, members of two FUW committees have unanimously branded the European Commission position on electronic identification of livestock (EID) as a "tax on the EU sheep industry".

FUW livestock committee chairman Aeron Prysor Jones said the union had spent years fighting EID and has managed to delay its implementation. However, the current position is that EID will be made compulsory in January 2010.