'Farming should be the provider of solutions'

Peter Kendall, the new President of NFU England and Wales, told NFU Cymru members during his first visit to Wales since being elected that he strongly believed, "Farming should be the provider of solutions and he wants others to share in his desire for a profitable farming industry in the future."

He explained to the large crowd of farmers who gathered at the dairy farm of NFU Cymru Ceredigion County Chairman, Gerwyn Owen, Pantygwiail, near Lampeter, that in the 20 years that he had been in farming it had all been bad stuff - over production, BSE, food scares, foot and mouth, cuts in farm support and so on. But, he went on to explain, "The environmental agenda has never had a higher profile and farming has an opportunity to be the provider of solutions. Agriculture has the potential to answer problems of climate change, both by reducing food miles with locally produced food and by growing energy crops for fuel."

Mr Kendall told NFU Cymru members how on a recent trip to 10 Downing Street he discussed a number of current farming issues with the Prime Minister including the need for a positive plan to curb bovine TB.

Gerwyn Owen, Ceredigion County Chairman explained to the new President about the difficulties local farmers, and indeed across Wales, are currently facing in regards to TB in cattle.

Mr Owen said, "I feel that this disease will not be controlled or eradicated with a half hearted approach by Government to solving the problem. I'm sure every farmer would rather see a more aggressive plan to eradicate the problem and redirect taxpayer's money to something more essential like the health service."

Dai Davies, President of NFU Cymru said, "It does concern me that the Welsh Assembly appears to be keen on 'reducing the risk of spreading bovine TB' whereas our concern and the concern of farmers across Wales is that it has already spread and the strategy should be based not just on containing but also eradicating the disease."

Following the meeting Mr Kendall went on to visit Llwyn Farm, a beef and sheep enterprise in Llandewi Brefi, Ceredigion. As Mr Kendall farms combinable crops just outside London he was keen to talk to the Jones family about their 660 acre hill farm business.