Members from across South and West Wales were present at The Nantyffin, Llandissilio, on Tuesday evening, for the annual conference organized by the Pembroke County branch of the National Farmers Union.

Chairman Walter Simon, Orielton extended a warm welcome to the main speaker, Andrew Slade - the Welsh Government’s Director of Agriculture - and also to the two other speakers, Stephen James, the Union’s president for Wales and Euryn Jones, regional director for Wales and the South West of England of HSBC Bank, who generously sponsored the evening.

Mr. Slade presented a detailed overview of the present situation regarding Welsh agriculture as a whole and commented upon major issues including the May election which, with several Assembly members about to stand down, might bring a whole new structure in Cardiff.

Changes to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy were also in the offing as were new proposals within the Rural Development Plan. Wildlife preservation, accountability in relation to pillar 2, preventing the extention of nitrate vulnerable zones and the worsening badger situation were also sensitive matters to cope with for which many were ‘jumping through hoops’ and achieving nothing.

Another ‘hot potato’ raised by Steve Alderman was the fact that various Government bodies were insisting that all required information be submitted on line when the available broadband provision was totally inadequate.

Questions were raised regarding the ‘living wage,’ the proposed Wages Board for Wales, grazing levels on heathland and the ill thought out Glasdir scheme.

Stephen James commented on consumers access to safe, high quality, affordable food being the most basic of requirements for all people in society.

Referring to a recent survey he said: “We (as a Union) were really surprised to find that not one of the proposed indicators related to food production and our capacity as a nation to feed ourselves.”

Mr. James considered that the food security and food production capacity of Wales should not be considered as an opt-in or opt-out policy: The Future Generation Act to be taken forward in a meaningful way must be a positive Indicator that considers food production as critical and which needs to be prioritised.

Reviewing the present state within agriculture, Mr. Euryn Jones confirmed that the UK’s farming industry is presently going through a period of enormous challenge caused by the low, and unprecedented, level of commodity prices at farm level.

“I see the industry being increasingly exposed to World markets - across the EU as well as in other parts of the globe - following three above average growing seasons and, on the back of previously strong prices, supply has grown faster than demand in many products,” he said.

The speakers were thanked by Simon Richards, immediate past chairman of the NFU’s Pembroke County branch.

The W. Rees Owen Memorial Prize - the NFU’s annual Student award - was this year won by Patrick (Jake) Sullivan, of Llandissilio, who is presently studying part- time for a foundation degree in Agriculture at ColegSirgar (Gelli Aur).

Curriculum head at the college, David Davies, said of Patrick, who is employed by the Ridge family at Vaynor Farm, Narberth: “He is very enthusiastic and shows great determination and I’m sure one day he will realise his dream and be farming in his own right.”