NFU Cymru meet with William Powell assembly member

NFU Cymru representatives in Brecon and Radnor recently met Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for mid and west Wales, William Powell, on farm near Talybont on Usk.

Local NFU Cymru members took the opportunity to impress upon William, who speaks for his party on the Environment, Sustainable Development and Rural Affairs, the massive problems that the prolonged winter had created for Wales’ farmers.

The meeting which was hosted by Brecon and Radnor NFU Cymru County Chairman, Glasnant Morgan, on his farm in Talybont-on-Usk, provided the ideal backdrop for William’s fact finding visit, with the snow that fell over three weeks ago still very much in evidence on the nearby hills and mountains.

The combination of snow and wind hit Glasnant’s farm, and many others in the county hard, creating real difficulties when it came to the day to day task of tending to the livestock and it lead to inevitable losses.

Commenting after the meeting Glasnant Morgan said, “The impact of such a harsh winter coming on the back of a very poor harvest and growing season last summer will be felt for some time to come.

"Farmers have been left dependent on expensive bought in feed to see their animals through the last few weeks as they wait for the weather to warm up and for the grass to start growing leading to mounting costs.

"There are also impacts which have yet to work their way through the system, and inevitably I and a great number of farmers like me will have less stock to sell later this year and into next year on account of the many animals that have already been lost to the exceptional weather."

Glasnant Morgan concluded, “I am most grateful to William for coming out on farm to see for himself the serious problems that the coldest March for 50 years has created.”