Members of the NFU Cymru Montgomeryshire county branch met in person for their annual conference at Welshpool Livestock Market recently, writes NFU Montgomeryshire chairman Huw Besent.

We were addressed by Abi Reader the NFU Cymru Dairy Board Chair, who gave us a good insight into all things regarding milk and other current affairs.

Bovine TB was very much on many members’ minds as various parts of the county are badly affected and some are in ‘Intensive Action’ areas.

It is apparent that the Welsh Government has not got a grip on bovine TB and need to look at TB in wildlife.

Abi Reader also stressed the importance of farmers promoting the industry, as she herself does, by opening her family farm to school children and on Open Farm Sunday so that people understand where food comes from and how it is produced.

Fuel prices have doubled in the last year and fertiliser has increased by over four times.

The knock-on effect of more expensive fertiliser will be that less is used, and the lighter crops next year will lead to less farm output.

One member explained how a world shortage of fertiliser impacts on Third World countries who rely on United Nations grants to purchase it. The money will buy a smaller amount than usual.

This can only lead to potential food shortages in following years, and even famine.

At the time of writing, it appears as though we are having another surge of Covid-19, with the Omicron strain which unfortunately will impact badly on Christmas festivities.

The Young Farmers’ Clubs usually have their ‘get togethers’ in local hostelries, and will be missed by many, especially as last year we were all on full lockdown.

Let us hope that this mutation is not too serious, and that the vaccines will give good protection – time will tell.

This is my last rambling for the ‘County Times’ as Richard Jones of Aberhafesp takes over as the county chairman. I would like to wish him all the best.