Young farmers from Ceredigion came together recently to discuss their future in farming with Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Rebecca Evans.

The event, which was organised by the Ceredigion branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, was held at Blaenglowon Fach farm, Talgarreg.

Hywel Dafis, 36, who is keen to update the milking parlour to be more competitive and efficient on the global market scale, said that a major problem for young people now was that there was less money in the pot that goes directly to farmers.

“Welsh farmers are facing the most challenging and difficult period for a decade. A severely depleted CAP budget thanks to 15 percent of monies being moved from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2, coupled with ongoing uncertainty over exactly how much and when farmers will receive their BPS payment, creates extreme pressures for the industry,” said Hywel.

“With all that in mind the Rural Development Programme (RDP) is one key toolbox we do have at our disposal and which is a lifeline to the farming community.

“It is really important that the next Welsh Government ensures that as much funding as possible is made available to invest directly in farm improvements and infrastructure which will improve farm returns and supply chain efficiency.

“RDP funds have to be invested in the future of agriculture and equip it to cope with reductions in financial support and market failure, so that young farmers like myself can move with the times and be efficient and competitive on a global scale.”

Ceredigion’s young people further highlighted the fact that farming plays an enormous role in the community and that many of the rural businesses are sustained by the farming community.