General News

There has been a huge expansion in community gardening and food growing initiatives over recent years in Wales.

Three Rural Development Plan (RDP) 2014-2020 consultation events will be taking place over the next few weeks, covering the themes of competitiveness, community and environment.

Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies is inviting people who have been badly affected by the recent severe weather to speak to him at a public meeting in Bala.

Reviewing the current methods for data collection in Wales - how can Agricultural Statistics work smarter for the future?

by Rita Jones, Head of the Farm Liaison Service.

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must be maintained at current levels in order for Wales to invest in jobs and growth, says the Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations came into force in 2002.

Plans are being drawn up for the first Wales Farming Conference which will take place at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells on Thursday, 23 May 2013.

Statistics released in February show that average farm incomes are lower in 2012/13 than they were in the previous four years.

There's more to the Cardi Bach bus than meets the eye.

It's a long way from working out of a tent in the Afghanistan war zone to setting up a business in Flintshire.

The National Assembly has voted to support the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Alun Davies, and the stance that he has taken in opposing the abolition of the Agriculture Wages Board (AWB).

Alun Davies AM, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes, has issued a statement about Support for lamb producers.

Glasu is a rural development initiative providing assistance and support to farming families in Powys.

by Rita Jones, Head of the Farm Liaison Service.

The abandonment of horses and ponies, or fly grazing as the problem has become commonly known, is in simple terms the actions of irresponsible owners who release their horses onto land over which they have no authority to graze.

Europe featured heavily in the news in 2012, and 2013 is shaping up to be another important year.

The Farming Connect Knowledge Transfer Programme publishes a wide range of fact sheets offering technical guidance to farmers on topical issues.

A reminder that this annual event, now in its second year will be held from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday 6 February at Hafod y Hendre, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.

Sheep and goat keepers should have received the Sheep and Goat Annual Inventory form in late December 2012.

An inspection of flock records revealed that several animal movements were not recorded in the flock record book.

Sheep and goat identification is a Statutory Management Requirement (SMR8) under Cross Compliance. 

Community Foodie, a co-operation pilot project, funded by Axis 4 of the RDP and the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is blooming!

St Dogmaels Abbey in north Pembrokeshire will be celebrating 900 years of existence in 2013 so it’s a very special year for this beautiful medieval abbey site and the village of St Dogmaels.

Nothing beats an open log fire or an attractive stove for comfort.

Do you graze common land?

The Rural Payments Wales Online Programme was launched in September 2011 to develop an online system aimed at streamlining the application process for schemes managed by Rural Payments Wales (RPW)  – work is now well under way.

We are consulting on changes to the law to encourage more responsible dog ownership in Wales.

A century ago, many farms and villages in Wales generated their own electricity from small turbines powered by streams. Today, the need for clean and renewable energy means that micro hydro power is once again a great opportunity for farmers in a country blessed with hills and rainfall.

Calling all sheep farmers.

Located in the beautiful Tywi Valley, Dryslwyn is renowned for its ruined Welsh castle that once housed the Princes of Deheubarth.

Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) is urging woodland owners/managers to check recently planted ash trees (2007-2008 season onwards) for signs of Chalara dieback disease, caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea.

The deadline for comments on open access maps, currently being undertaken by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) as part of a statutory 10-year review, is 23 November 2012.

Gareth Williams author of the Working Smarter report and independent advisor to the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and European Programmes has returned to Welsh Government to review the progress being made against delivery of the 74 recommendations made in the report.

The Sheep and Goat Annual Inventory form will be posted to all registered keepers from the 22nd December this year.

Quad bike accidents are still on the increase in Wales.

by Rita Jones, Head of the Farm Liaison Service.

Evidence of recent Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) infection has been detected on premises in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

In the last few months, a number of lives have tragically been lost due to accidents on UK farms.

Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) has made changes to the way they assess applications for Glastir Woodland Creation.

The Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, John Griffiths, has announced that the new body that will bring together the functions of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales will be called Natural Resources Wales.

You can’t always tell when someone is in need, but the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) can, and they can help.

Farmers are re urged not to miss out on a grant of £1,000 under the Welsh Government’s Broadband Support Scheme, a project helping rural communities to tackle broadband “notspots” making it easier and quicker to work online.

First Minister Carwyn Jones has pledged continued support for the work of farmers in producing food and looking after the countryside.

A group of talented Gwynedd artists have set up business together thanks to an innovative scheme aimed at developing local producers.

The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Alun Davies, has said Welsh needs are being heard following his attendance at the Council of European Agriculture Ministers this week.

The new body that will replace the Environment Agency Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales has been formally named by Environment Minister, John Griffiths.

Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) is urging woodland owners/managers to check recently planted ash trees (2007-2008 season onwards) for signs of Chalara dieback disease, caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea.

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is reminding landowners and user groups that the deadline for submitting representations on the new draft maps of open access land is 23 November 2012.

There will be a historical exhibition of photographs, information and articles about the Drovers of Tregaron and the Cambrian Mountains in Tregaron Memorial Hall, SY25 on Saturday 27th October from 10am to 4pm.