We need a reason to stay in farming
BREXIT, poor beef prices and environmental criticisms have left an Anglesey farming family worried for the future.
Ioan Roberts and wife Helen, who run 120 Welsh Black cattle at Tryfil Isaf, Llanerchymedd, fear the entire red meat sector in Wales is under threat.
“Without being a doomsday thinker, there are some very real challenges ahead and we can’t overcome them all by ourselves,” said Ioan.
“If we want to continue seeing native breeds like Welsh Blacks on the land, and enjoying local food, more needs to be done.”
Fourteen years ago Ioan gave up his job as a school teacher to concentrate on the 150-acre farm, which has been in the family since the 1870s.
But this year’s price declines, coupled with Brexit uncertainty, has left him questioning his decision to return to farming.
To highlight the threat to family farms in Wales, he invited Anglesey MP Albert Owen to Tryfil Isaf.
“I feel more needs to be done to promote our beef as a premium product,” Ioan told him.
“In my mind it deserves to be up there with PGI Welsh Lamb.
“The UK Government must also ensure we have an export market in just a few weeks’ time.
“Otherwise, what’s the point in keeping this going?”
Joining the delegation were representatives of the FUW, including vice-president Eifion Huws, who called for a pause in the Brexit process.
A no-deal outcome, or a hard Brexit, would do “untold damage” to family farms like Tryfil Isaf, he said.
Revoking Article 50 was now the only option: this would enable the UK to “take back control” and ensure an orderly Brexit, Mr Huws added.
■ Farm leaders last Wednesday demanded an urgent meeting with UK Farming Minister George Eustice to discuss the worsening crisis in the UK beef market.
NFU president Minette Batters and her Welsh counterpart John Davies took action after finished and store cattle prices plummeted to well below the cost of production.
They want the UK Government to investigate the beef sector and address any transparency or fairness issues it uncovers.