MY LAST column referred to the support the FUW had received for lashing out at the ridiculous decision by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to force farmers in areas with no or poor broadband Internet Service Provider (ISP) provision to fill out their monthly or quarterly VAT returns on-line from April 1 this year.
So I was somewhat heartened when the Chancellor confirmed in his recent Budget that he would be introducing a 50p per month broadband levy to fund super-fast broadband to 90 per cent of the population by the end of 2017.
But, politics being politics, such a positive move promptly became a casualty of the parliamentary pre-election business "wash-up" and will not now go-ahead, so goodness only knows when places like Powys will get broadband good enough for businesses to compete on a level playing field.
I am bitterly disappointed that this levy, which would have ensured an up-to-date broadband connection for all, has been put on the back burner once again. The FUW has long complained that the lack of effective broadband in many parts of Wales is putting rural businesses at a severe disadvantage.
Access to a fast internet connection is also becoming an increasingly useful tool for farmers with registering cattle movements online. So, it is vital we have effective access to broadband technology to carry out such tasks quickly and efficiently. But Westminster's latest decision will mean broadband black-spots will continue to cause problems for rural dwellers, particularly in Powys, for some time to come.
On a brighter note, the FUW welcomed the abandonment of the proposed changes to tax relief for furnished holiday lettings, which was one positive outcome from the pre-election wash-up.
We have always maintained that scrapping these benefits would have a serious effect on the income of many FUW members, who have diversified into letting out holiday accommodation. The tax would have undoubtedly discouraged farmers from developing accommodation for tourists who play an important part in maintaining sustainability in rural Wales.
Last week the FUW also welcomed a £3.3m investment in the Welsh dairy industry over the next three years. The project, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and European Agricultural Fund's rural development supply chain efficiencies scheme, operates through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013.
It provides financial support for co-operation projects to develop new products, processes and technologies in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors. The aim of the project is to help improve levels of efficiency, sustainability and added value in the dairy supply chain.
The FUW is sure many farmers will find advice, support and information on issues such as energy efficiency, maximising production efficiency and profits, beneficial but advice alone will not help tackle the problems dairy farmers face on a daily basis.
Without a fair price for their milk, a number of farmers will find they don't have the means to act on the advice. The crux of the matter is many farmers are still being paid less for their milk than it costs to produce it.