A National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru past president, who once hosted former Queen guitarist and animal rights campaigner Brian May on his farm, has been honoured with a major Welsh farming award.
Stephen James was presented with the Idris Davies Memorial Award during a ceremony at Pembrokeshire County Show on Tuesday (August 14).
Stephen runs a 330-cow dairy herd in partnership with his wife Joyce and son Daniel and is a well-known and respected figure in agricultural circles throughout Pembrokeshire and beyond.
He was elected NFU Cymru president in 2014, a position he held for four years, and before that he served as NFU Cymru deputy president from 2010 until 2014.
Lobbying for Welsh farming
Stephen led NFU Cymru’s lobbying to Welsh Government, Westminster and was at the forefront of NFU Cymru’s engagement with major retailers and processors.
His association with NFU Cymru spans over 20 years and he has held numerous positions including local branch chairman, county chairman, Animal Health and Welfare lead, Bovine TB spokesperson, NFU Governance Board member, NFU Policy Board member and NFU Audit committee member.
It was the issue of Bovine TB that first ignited Stephen’s desire to get more involved with NFU Cymru at a local level.
He went on to become NFU Cymru’s lead on all policy issues around animal health and welfare.
He even hosted former Queen guitarist and animal rights campaigner Brian May on his farm to show the impact of Bovine TB on his farming family.
Stephen has also been at the forefront of NFU Cymru lobbying for fairer terms and conditions around milk supply contracts.
He was one of the leaders of the coalition of organisations that led to the ‘SOS Dairy’ emergency summit in 2012.
This saw more than 2,500 farmers gathering in Westminster in July 2012 following a series of vicious milk price cuts that threatened to send hundreds of farming families out of business.
Most recently, Stephen led the lobbying effort against Welsh Government proposals to expand areas of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) in Wales, with the Welsh Government announcing in December that it will not take forward any new NVZ areas at this time.
His contribution to the local agricultural scene has not just been limited to the NFU; he has also been involved in Clynderwen Community Council, Clynderwen Show Society, Narberth Grassland Society, Clynderwen and Cardiganshire Farmers Ltd and Pembrokeshire YFC.
He has also been honoured as both an associate and a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
Mansel Raymond, chairman of the Idris Davies Memorial Award Management Committee, said: “Stephen has made an outstanding contribution to the agricultural community in Pembrokeshire in many ways, over many years and he joins some excellent company in becoming this year’s winner of this prestigious award.”
