The National Farmers’ Union of Wales (NFU Cymru) is set to hold a number of specialist seminars at this year’s Royal Welsh Show.
The seminars will begin on Monday, July 22, with the First Minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething.
The Royal Welsh Show will take place from Monday July 22, until Thursday, July 25, at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales.
This year’s seminars will be held in the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee at the rear of the NFU Cymru building (492-E), situated next to the main ring.
Topics of discussion will include the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), regulation and sustainable Welsh food production.
The list of seminars and speakers for Monday (July 22) are as follows:
Monday (11:00a.m) – ‘Setting the scene’
- First Minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething;
- NFU Cymru president, Aled Jones;
- NFU President, Tom Bradshaw.
Monday (2:00p.m) – ‘Is regulation holding back Welsh farming?’
- NFU Cymru deputy president, Abi Reader;
- NFU Cymru TB task and finish group chair, Roger Lewis;
- NFU Cymru water quality review group chair, Martin Griffiths;
- DPJ foundation manager, Kate Miles;
- NFU Cymru county adviser, Stella Owen.
NFU Cymru president, Aled Jones, said: “As this year’s Royal Welsh Show approaches, the union is once again looking forward to welcoming members to our stand and discussing the wide-ranging issues within our industry.
“As well as our seminars, over the course of the week NFU Cymru will be meeting with government ministers, politicians of all parties, retailers, banks and key representatives from across the agri-food supply chain to raise the issues that impact on our farmers at this time.”
Sustainable Farming Scheme
The 11:00a.m seminar on Tuesday (July 23) is titled ‘Sustainable Farming Scheme – Where are we now? What next?’.
Speakers include Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, and NFU Cymru president, Aled Jones.
On Wednesday (July 24) the 11:00am seminar taking place will be focused on sustainable Welsh food production.
Speakers include:
- NFU Cymru livestock board chair, Rob Lewis;
- Food & Drink Wales sustainability cluster lead and associate director, Levercliff, Mark Grant;
- Agriculture governance and compliance manager at Kepak, Dr Julie Finch;
- Chief executive at British Wool, Andrew Hogley;
- Lead of agricultural systems research group at IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Dr Christina Marley;
- NFU Cymru member, Ed Swan.
Awards
NFU Cymru will also be presenting two awards during the Royal Welsh Show: the Gareth Raw Rees Scholarship and the Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Award.
The Gareth Raw Rees Scholarship, supported by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, will be awarded on Tuesday, July 23, at 12:30p.m, and is an annual presentation to scholars wishing to travel to broaden their knowledge of agriculture.
A large number of farmers under the age of 30 have received a contribution towards their travels and learning over the years through the scholarship.
The 26th NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Award, which seeks to champion the contribution that women make to the agricultural industry and to raise the profile of women in farming, will be presented on Thursday, July25, at 11:00a.m.
