FUW hosts workshops and seminars at 2017 fair
BREXIT, livestock-worrying and farm safety will be among the topics discussed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) at next week’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair 2017.
On Monday members will discuss concerns relating to Brexit and agriculture with the Welsh Affairs Committee.
Other events on Monday include the launch of the FUW’s Guide to Diversification, which highlights areas such as legal issues and tax implications, as well as featuring case studies from members who have already diversified.
In addition, a joint two-day seminar with the Animal Welfare Network Wales on livestock-worrying will be held at the FUW Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground. Hope Rescue will talk about dog training and behaviour, and the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) will talk about the training of dogs.
On Tuesday the FUW will host a seminar on livestock-worrying by dogs with North Wales Police and will hear first-hand from sheep farmer and FUW member Gwyn Thomas about his experience of livestock-worrying.
FUW senior policy officer Dr Hazel Wright, who is chairing the livestock-worrying seminars, said: “Livestock-worrying continues to be an important issue for our members. These seminars offer the opportunity to discuss the issue from the perspective of the farmer, the police and animal behaviour and welfare charities, and we are delighted to be hosting this important event.”
To help raise the awareness of the dangers of working with animals, the Wales Farm Safety Partnership with the support of Farming Connect will be holding safe cattle-handling workshops during this year’s Winter Fair.
The workshops are located next to the Lantra building, delivered by Lantra instructors and are free for anyone to come and learn more about how to handle cattle safely, to avoid injury to the animals and humans.
Huw Jones, the FUW’s representative on the Wales Farm Safety Partnership group, said: “This is a great opportunity to learn new techniques on cattle-handling which will hopefully help avoid any unnecessary injuries or accidents, and I urge anyone who is handling cattle to make use of these great workshops.”
The Winter Fair takes place over two days on Monday, November 27 and Tuesday, November 28 at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.
FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “Our staff and officials are on hand to discuss any questions you may have about #FarmingMatters, including the new bovine TB rules, diversification and quarantine units.”