Farmers, just like other people, have been more dependent on the internet and social media over the last few months, writes Hugh Besent.

It has been useful for news, meetings, as well as interests and social interaction. Many local events, like our village show, have managed to hold a virtual event and brought light entertainment during the summer.

Our NFU Cymru county meeting went virtual for the first time this month.

A variety of topics were discussed including changes to the BPS and cross border issues, NVZ proposals, contracts between farmers and buyers, as well as standards and tariffs. A very constructive discussion was had.

I would like to urge more members to join when we next hold a meeting online.

The only fly in the ointment was that I, as chairman, was frozen out twice, as we lost our broadband connection which made it more of a challenge than it should have been.

Indeed, it seems that our fibre connection wire which was coiled up a pole half a mile away was being examined by the neighbours’ sheep. It is about time BT got us connected properly.

Social Media has certainly been a good way of keeping up to date of the ongoings around the country. Although I don’t use it personally, I was recently shown some interesting reports of the peat bog being restored above Borth.

I sometimes question the activities mentioned in the reports and if they have a positive impact on the environment and flood mitigation. Could the resources used for these projects be better spent on maintenance of existing flood defences across Wales?

William Lloyd Williams, a farmer and local butcher in Machynlleth has highlighted the plight of small, local abattoirs in his video entitled ‘Swan Song of the Local Abattoir’. It is well worth watching on the following link: https://vimeo.com/459172182