A Welsh Minister has visited an upland sheep farm in the Brecon Beacons National Park to learn first-hand how farmers care for the environment and produce food.
Recently appointed Minister for the Environment, Hannah Blythyn AM, went on-farm to see how food production and caring for, and enhancing the Welsh environment and landscape go hand in hand.
The Minister visited the hill and upland sheep farm of Garry Williams, Blaencennen, Gwynfe where he was able to show the Minister some of the environmental work that he has carried out within the Glastir Advanced agri-environment scheme.
Glastir Advanced is intended to deliver environmental improvements for a range of objectives including habitats, species, soil and water and is available to farmers and land managers.
Mr Williams' work has included tree planting, hedge coppicing and the introduction of root crops into his grazing rotation.
He was also able to take the Minister to his local common, the Black Mountains, and explain how he and fellow graziers work together to manage the common under a Glastir commons agri-environment scheme.
'Viable and profitable'
Speaking after the meeting, the farmer said: “We, as farmers, manage our land to ensure that we produce food as efficiently as possible, in my case sheep production, whilst continually looking to opportunities to enhance the environment and biodiversity on farm.”
He said all this work is only possible through a "viable and profitable" core farming businesses.
Mr Williams said he was also "pleased" to be able to explain to the Minister the role that farmers play in a "living and vibrant" rural community.
“Between my farming enterprise and the small tourism business that we have established over the last few years, we regularly engage with over 40 local businesses that range from our local agricultural merchant, contractors employed to carry out routine field work, to electricians, welding fabricators and our accountant and solicitor,” he explained.
“All of these businesses in a rural county like Carmarthenshire rely on farms like mine for a significant part of their income.”
Hannah Blythyn said she was "very grateful" to Mr Williams for the welcome and to NFU Cymru for arranging the visit.
“It was a pleasure to meet everyone and to learn more about the important work that takes place on the farm. I place great value on opportunities like this to find out first-hand about the environmental challenges and opportunities facing farmers in Wales,” the Minister said.
