President of the Farmers’ Union of Wales Glyn Roberts welcomed Leanne Wood AM, leader of Plaid Cymru, and the Shadow Agriculture Minister Llyr Gruffydd AM, to a farm visit at Troedrhiwlasgrug near the Glanyrafon industrial estate in Aberystwyth on Saturday October 24 during the Plaid Cymru annual conference.
Troedrhiwlasgrug has been farmed by Mr and Mrs John and Beryl Owen since 1982. The 1000 acre beef and sheep farm includes the striking Dinas mountain in Ponterwyd in which over 400 breeding ewes and 500 lambs graze during the summer months. They also have 15 beef sucklers.
The farm has also immersed itself in the Welsh Government agri environment scheme ‘Glastir’ since its launch in 2011, and has since progressed to the ‘Glastir Advance’ scheme.
Since elected as president Glyn Roberts has repeatedly expressed his aim of bridging the gap between town and county as a means of strengthening the agricultural industry in Wales.
FUW president Glyn Roberts said; “The industry has seen and is continuing to see massive price fluctuations which threaten the livelihood of farming families.
“Who and where better to demonstrate my priority as a president than for me, a farmer from Ysbyty Ifan, to show the Rhondda-born Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood around Mr and Mrs Owen’s farm which sits in the middle of an industrial estate. I’m passionate about looking towards a sustainable and stable future for Welsh agriculture. I believe the answer lies within Wales and the first step is to unite the people of Wales to back Welsh farming.”
Whilst walking through the farmyard overlooking the busy industrial estate, John Owen talked of his frustration with the continuing poor lamb prices. He and Leanne Wood discussed the need to promote this high quality product to Welsh consumers.
Leanne Wood said; “The agricultural sector is going through a particularly difficult period at the moment. Poor red meat and milk prices are making it difficult for many farmers to make ends meet.
“I believe Welsh farmers have the support of consumers, however this support is not shown in farm-gate prices.”
