Latest news with #FUW
Rhyl Journal
24-05-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
FUW highlights wildlife and environmental resilience success
Since 2016 we've seen Brexit, Covid-19 and a steady stream of UK Prime Ministers come and go. Meanwhile, farmers have been quietly getting on with creating, restoring and managing habitats, often on the same land that feeds us all. With this Thursday marking the International Day for Biological Diversity, it provides an opportunity to celebrate these efforts that have delivered impressive results for local wildlife and environmental resilience. For example, diverse hedgerows which flower and fruit are a priority habitat for 12 of the UK's most threatened bird species, and restored or managed ponds and scrapes can lead to a 25-times increase in emergent insect biomass, supporting even more biodiversity than rivers and lakes. The extent, and success of this work was recently highlighted by the Farmers' Union of Wales following some data analysis from Welsh Government figures. Between 2016 and 2023, an average of 388,460 hectares was managed under agri-environmental contracts - around 21% of Welsh farmland. As part of this work, farmers planted, restored or laid 1,716,529 metres of hedgerows, created 72,134m² of new ponds, and created or maintained 1,218.51 hectares of streamside corridor/riparian woodland, alongside creating orchards, hay meadows and winter bird seed sources. All of these combine to create cover, food and connectivity for insects, birds, and small mammals as well as contributing to cleaner, slower flowing water, clean air, and carbon sequestration alongside food production. As the FUW gathered these figures, the Welsh Government released its Wales National Trends and Glastir Evaluation report for 2010-2021 (ERAMMP Report 105). Some of these efforts made by farmers through Glastir agreements can be seen within national trends. For example, the management of unharvested/unsprayed cereals or winter stubble providing seed, insects and shelter has led to a 24% increase in granivorous bird species. Riparian or streamside woodland corridors provide a multitude of benefits, and the report shows that 80% of headwaters remain in good ecological condition, with a halt in decline of plant species richness in broadleaved woodland. However, the report also makes for sobering reading, with generally negative and some 'stable' impacts for Wales' environment and wildlife as a whole. Farmers have been following the prescriptions provided to them by the Welsh Government through its editions of agri-environment schemes for decades, so we must ensure that future schemes offer practical options that work for both farming businesses and biodiversity in Wales. It is an FUW priority to ensure future support, largely through the Sustainable Farming Scheme, works for all farming businesses.
North Wales Chronicle
23-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
FUW highlights wildlife and environmental resilience success
Since 2016 we've seen Brexit, Covid-19 and a steady stream of UK Prime Ministers come and go. Meanwhile, farmers have been quietly getting on with creating, restoring and managing habitats, often on the same land that feeds us all. With this Thursday marking the International Day for Biological Diversity, it provides an opportunity to celebrate these efforts that have delivered impressive results for local wildlife and environmental resilience. For example, diverse hedgerows which flower and fruit are a priority habitat for 12 of the UK's most threatened bird species, and restored or managed ponds and scrapes can lead to a 25-times increase in emergent insect biomass, supporting even more biodiversity than rivers and lakes. The extent, and success of this work was recently highlighted by the Farmers' Union of Wales following some data analysis from Welsh Government figures. Between 2016 and 2023, an average of 388,460 hectares was managed under agri-environmental contracts - around 21% of Welsh farmland. As part of this work, farmers planted, restored or laid 1,716,529 metres of hedgerows, created 72,134m² of new ponds, and created or maintained 1,218.51 hectares of streamside corridor/riparian woodland, alongside creating orchards, hay meadows and winter bird seed sources. All of these combine to create cover, food and connectivity for insects, birds, and small mammals as well as contributing to cleaner, slower flowing water, clean air, and carbon sequestration alongside food production. As the FUW gathered these figures, the Welsh Government released its Wales National Trends and Glastir Evaluation report for 2010-2021 (ERAMMP Report 105). Some of these efforts made by farmers through Glastir agreements can be seen within national trends. For example, the management of unharvested/unsprayed cereals or winter stubble providing seed, insects and shelter has led to a 24% increase in granivorous bird species. Riparian or streamside woodland corridors provide a multitude of benefits, and the report shows that 80% of headwaters remain in good ecological condition, with a halt in decline of plant species richness in broadleaved woodland. However, the report also makes for sobering reading, with generally negative and some 'stable' impacts for Wales' environment and wildlife as a whole. Farmers have been following the prescriptions provided to them by the Welsh Government through its editions of agri-environment schemes for decades, so we must ensure that future schemes offer practical options that work for both farming businesses and biodiversity in Wales. It is an FUW priority to ensure future support, largely through the Sustainable Farming Scheme, works for all farming businesses.
Leader Live
23-05-2025
- General
- Leader Live
FUW highlights wildlife and environmental resilience success
Since 2016 we've seen Brexit, Covid-19 and a steady stream of UK Prime Ministers come and go. Meanwhile, farmers have been quietly getting on with creating, restoring and managing habitats, often on the same land that feeds us all. With this Thursday marking the International Day for Biological Diversity, it provides an opportunity to celebrate these efforts that have delivered impressive results for local wildlife and environmental resilience. For example, diverse hedgerows which flower and fruit are a priority habitat for 12 of the UK's most threatened bird species, and restored or managed ponds and scrapes can lead to a 25-times increase in emergent insect biomass, supporting even more biodiversity than rivers and lakes. The extent, and success of this work was recently highlighted by the Farmers' Union of Wales following some data analysis from Welsh Government figures. Between 2016 and 2023, an average of 388,460 hectares was managed under agri-environmental contracts - around 21% of Welsh farmland. As part of this work, farmers planted, restored or laid 1,716,529 metres of hedgerows, created 72,134m² of new ponds, and created or maintained 1,218.51 hectares of streamside corridor/riparian woodland, alongside creating orchards, hay meadows and winter bird seed sources. All of these combine to create cover, food and connectivity for insects, birds, and small mammals as well as contributing to cleaner, slower flowing water, clean air, and carbon sequestration alongside food production. As the FUW gathered these figures, the Welsh Government released its Wales National Trends and Glastir Evaluation report for 2010-2021 (ERAMMP Report 105). Some of these efforts made by farmers through Glastir agreements can be seen within national trends. For example, the management of unharvested/unsprayed cereals or winter stubble providing seed, insects and shelter has led to a 24% increase in granivorous bird species. Riparian or streamside woodland corridors provide a multitude of benefits, and the report shows that 80% of headwaters remain in good ecological condition, with a halt in decline of plant species richness in broadleaved woodland. However, the report also makes for sobering reading, with generally negative and some 'stable' impacts for Wales' environment and wildlife as a whole. Farmers have been following the prescriptions provided to them by the Welsh Government through its editions of agri-environment schemes for decades, so we must ensure that future schemes offer practical options that work for both farming businesses and biodiversity in Wales. It is an FUW priority to ensure future support, largely through the Sustainable Farming Scheme, works for all farming businesses.
Pembrokeshire Herald
20-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
FUW and MP call for fairer treatment of farmers in supply chains
Cross-party support grows for reforms to Groceries Code Adjudicator and better food labelling THE FARMERS' UNION OF WALES has met with Brecon, Radnor & Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick to discuss a series of pressing issues affecting Welsh farmers—chief among them, the urgent need to secure fairer prices and treatment for primary producers within the UK's food supply chains. The meeting follows a campaign led by the Welsh Liberal Democrat MP to strengthen the powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which regulates the relationship between major supermarkets and their suppliers, including farmers. Mr Chadwick has raised repeated concerns in Parliament about the treatment of farmers by large retailers, arguing that the current system lacks the enforcement power and scope needed to protect producers' interests. Established in 2013, the GCA has faced growing criticism over its limited resources and inability to effectively tackle structural imbalances in the supply chain. In a Westminster Hall debate earlier this year, Mr Chadwick called for major reforms and drew attention to what he described as systemic unfairness in the sector. The Brecon, Radnor & Cwm Tawe MP is now backing the cross-party Food Supply Chain Fairness Bill, introduced in March by Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The Bill seeks to bolster the role of the GCA and includes further measures such as increased public procurement of locally sourced food and stricter origin labelling requirements. FUW Deputy President Dai Miles welcomed the discussion, saying: 'The FUW has long argued that the Westminster Government must take meaningful action to redress the imbalance of power between primary producers, processors and retailers. 'The GCA was a step in the right direction, but it's become clear that it lacks the teeth to effectively protect farmers and producers. We were pleased to meet with David Chadwick MP and discuss how we can ensure farmers are given a stronger, fairer voice within the supply chain.' The meeting also addressed wider challenges facing Welsh agriculture, including the implications of the UK-US trade agreement and ongoing concerns about proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR), which could have significant tax implications for farming families. David Chadwick MP said: 'Unfairness in the supply chain is one of the most common concerns raised with me by farmers and producers in my constituency. I'm pleased to be working alongside the FUW and cross-party MPs to address the imbalance we see across the sector. 'Farming communities are under immense pressure. I will continue to ensure their voices are heard in Westminster as we fight for a better deal for rural Wales.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FM wanted 'more discussion' on EU fishing rights
First Minister Eluned Morgan has welcomed a new deal struck between the UK and the EU, but said she would have "like more discussion" between the Welsh and UK governments on the issue of fishing. A key part of the deal, which comes after years of disagreements over Brexit, involves giving Europe fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters in exchange for easing some trade frictions. Morgan said the deal offered "more opportunity for jobs and growth", something that is "going to help people pay their bills". The Farmers' Union of Wales (FAW) said it welcomed efforts "to restore relations with our nearest trading partners", while the Welsh Fisherman's Association said its views broadly aligned with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO), which said it was "very disappointed" with the deal. Starmer accuses Plaid MP of talking 'rubbish' Morgan rejects 'divisive language' on immigration Morgan right to push our government - UK minister Responding to concerns about the deal in the fishing industry, Morgan said: "On the one hand I can understand there are some issues for them but on the other hand their ability to export is going to be much better than it was before." Asked if the Welsh government had been consulted over the effect on fishing - control of which is devolved to Wales - she said there had been talks but that she "would have liked more discussion". "We've had an idea of what's been going on the whole time but the detail wasn't finalised until the past few days," she said. The Welsh Labour government also welcomed the agreement, with Finance Minister Rebecca Evans saying Wales "is, and always will be, a proudly outward-looking European nation". Evans said the Welsh government welcomed the Labour UK government's "commitment to re-set relations with the EU", adding that improved relations between the UK and EU created "new opportunities for enhanced security, safety and economic prosperity for citizens and businesses on both sides of the channel". The UK Conservatives and Reform UK have described the deal as a "surrender" to the EU, with UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch saying that giving the EU access to British waters for 12 years "was three times longer than the government wanted". "We're becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again," she said. Ian Rickman, president of the Farmers' Union for Wales (FUW), said he welcomed the efforts by the UK government to restore relations with the EU. "The long-term security of the EU market for the trading of agri-food products should not be underestimated given the current volatility of global markets amid tensions over tariffs," he said. Mr Rickman added that the FUW has raised concerns about "effective border checks on EU food imports entering the UK", and that the agreement should open the door to "ensuring that food imports and exports are subject to similar controls", creating a "level playing field" between UK and EU producers. The UK government said the deal would make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing paperwork and checks. Some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely, it said. In return, the UK will give the EU access to its fishing waters until 2038 - a 12-year extension of arrangements already in place. The post-Brexit deal on fishing rights, which gave EU boats continued access to UK waters, was set to expire at the end of June 2026. The UK government has also unveiled a £360m investment fund in coastal communities and the fishing industry. Fishing accounts for an estimated 0.4% of UK GDP, but British control over its fishing waters was a big issue in the Brexit campaign. The Welsh Fisherman's Association said it was still working through the details of the deal, but questioned how the prime minister can "commit to an agreement that extends beyond his term of office". "Whilst it us understood that international agreements are not a devolved matter they nevertheless should be the result of consultation with the relevant Welsh ministers and indeed Welsh stakeholders which explains why today's news was so shocking," they said, adding that the organisation's view broadly aligned with the NFFO. The NFFO said granting 12 additional years to EU boats in UK waters "surrenders the best prospect that the fishing industry and coastal communities had for growth over the coming decade".
