Minister for Rural Affairs addresses Mid Wales AGM

Elin Jones, the Minister for Rural Affairs was the guest speaker at the Mid Wales Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group's AGM held on Thursday, 28^th February at the Black Lion, Tal-y-bont, Aberystwyth. She was welcomed to the packed meeting by Mr David Morgan of Allt Goch, Tal-y-bont, who was re-elected as chairman of the Mid Wales FWAG group.

The business agenda of the meeting focused on the development of FWAG Cymru in Mid Wales.  FWAG staff reported on the achievements of the group over the past year, which included numerous very successful events such as the Demonstration Days held at Moeliwrch, Llansilin and Plasauduon, Clatter; and an increasing number of farmers in the area joining the premier membership scheme FWAG Cyntaf.

The Minister spoke of matters currently on her agenda, which included environmental issues, food security and TB. She gave generously of her time for questions which were wide-ranging - from co-operative working to the introduction of part-farm agri-environment schemes and agricultural production.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Hywel Roberts of Bryndreiniog, Penybontfawr, who was re-elected as vice chairman of the Mid Wales FWAG group. He emphasised the group's appreciation of the support of its farmer members within Mid Wales, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation's core funding and the evening event's sponsorship by the Countryside Council for Wales. Glenda Thomas, the Director of FWAG Cymru said "We're delighted with the achievements of the Mid Wales FWAG group, which is testament to the work of members of the FWAG Cymru team such as Bethan Roberts of Tal-y-bont , our members and committee in the area. We very much appreciate the Minister's support, and look forward to another year of guiding farmers through the ever-increasing environmental tasks on their farm, particularly in conjunction with sound commercial production."

Currently much of the FWAG Cymru team's work involves assisting farmers who are expecting a Tir Gofal Project Officer to their farm, to prepare them for such a visit, be it at the initial application stage or at the 5-year break-clause. Likewise, FWAG Advisers are much in demand to assist with Tir Cynnal applications & the completion of Resource Management Plans, a requirement of the scheme.

Elin Jones, y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig oedd y siaradwraig wadd yng Nghyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol Gr?p Ymgynghorol Ffermio a Bywyd Gwyllt y Canolbarth a gynhaliwyd nos Iau, 28^ain Chwefror yn y Llew Du, Tal-y-bont. Croesawyd hi i'r cyfarfod llawn gan Mr David Morgan o Allt Goch, Tal-y-bont, a ail-etholwyd yn gadeirydd Gr?p FWAG y Canolbarth.

Canolbwyntiodd agenda fusnes y cyfarfod ar ddatblygiad FWAG Cymru yn y Canolbarth.  Cafwyd adroddiad gan staff FWAG am yr hyn roedd y gr?p wedi llwyddo i'w gyflawni yn ystod y flwyddyn - oedd yn cynnwys nifer o ddigwyddiadau llwyddiannus fel y dyddiau arddangos yn Moeliwrch, Llansilin a Plasauduon, Clatter; a'r nifer gynyddol o ffermwyr yn yr ardal sy'n ymuno gyda'r prif gynllun aelodaeth - FWAG Cyntaf.

Siaradodd y Gweinidog am yr hyn sydd ar ei hagenda hi ar hyn o bryd sy'n cynnwys materion amgylcheddol, diogelwch bwyd a TB.  Rhoddodd yn hael o'i hamser ar gyfer ateb cwestiynau oedd yn eang iawn - o weithio cydweithredol i gyflwyno cynlluniau amaeth-amgylcheddol ffermydd a chynhyrchu amaethyddol.

Diolchwyd iddi gan Mr Hywel Roberts, Bryndreiniog, Pen-y-bont-fawr, a ail-etholwyd yn is gadeirydd gr?p FWAG y Canolbarth.  Pwysleisiodd gymaint roedd y gr?p yn gwerthfawrogi cefnogaeth y ffermwyr oedd yn aelodau yn y Canolbarth, ariannu craidd gan Sefydliad Esmée Fairbairn a nawdd i'r noson gan Gyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru.  Dywedodd Glenda Thomas, Cyfarwyddwr FWAG Cymru "'Rydym yn falch iawn o'r hyn mae gr?p FWAG y Canolbarth wedi ei gyflawni  sy'n adlewyrchiad o waith aelodau tîm FWAG Cymru fel Bethan Roberts o Dal-y-bont, ein haelodau a'r pwyllgor yn yr ardal.  Gwerthfawrogwn yn arw'r gefnogaeth a geir gan y Gweinidog ac edrychwn ymlaen at flwyddyn arall i helpu ffermwyr drwy'r nifer gynyddol o dasgau amgylcheddol ar eu ffermydd, yn arbennig ar y cyd â chynhyrchu masnachol."

Ar hyn o bryd mae llawer o waith tîm FWAG Cymru yn golygu cynorthwyo ffermwyr sy'n aros am ymweliad gan Swyddog Prosiect Tir Gofal i'w fferm, a'u paratoi ar gyfer yr ymweliad, boed hynny i wneud cais cychwynnol neu'r cymal torri 5 mlynedd.  Mae galw mawr hefyd ar Ymgynghorwyr FWAG i gynorthwyo gyda cheisiadau Tir Cynnal a chwblhau Cynlluniau Rheoli Adnoddau sy'n ofyniad o'r cynllun.