Deal does not favour us at all

THIS is my first column as Deputy President so I must start by thanking you for electing me, I look forward to doing my job and working with Aled and the team on your behalf.

For those of you I have not yet met, I farm in Glamorgan with my family on a mixed 700-acre farm.

My first week into the role was a chance to get to understand more fully how the NFU Cymru team works and what the diary of duties will look like going forward.

Aled and I also met with members of the press to introduce ourselves formally and to help us start our term off on a familiar footing with those people in the media who are so important for helping us to echo our messages to a wider audience.

My second major meeting in office was with the Australian High Commissioner to discuss matters surrounding the Australian trade deal.

There is no doubt Australia worked very hard on behalf of their farmers and secured a good deal, whilst for Welsh farms, particularly those producing red meat, frankly the deal does not favour us at all.

As I sat in the board room in Builth, overlooking the main ring of the Royal Welsh Showground, it seemed incredible we were even having a conversation with Australia about the importance of our PGI Welsh Beef and Lamb.

The Commissioner was keen to tell us about opportunities available to us in China and other parts of Asia for red meat and dairy, and this is true; we need to use our excellent reputation to break into these markets, sell our products at a premium and bring this wealth back to Wales.

At the same time though we must not take our eyes off the fact our domestic market is vitally important and must be promoted and protected by us over any products entering this country which do not match our standards. There is much work to be done to support the Welsh food brand both in retail and food service. Remember more than one million people signed the NFU petition supporting British food.

The country is behind us, and I will ensure this message continues to be heard loud and clear by MSS, MPS and anyone else we need to influence.