Young blood needed, says vice-president (From Western Telegraph)

Young blood needed, says vice-president

Young people must be encouraged to farm if the industry is to survive in Wales, says the new deputy president of NFU Cymru.

Carmarthenshire dairy farmer Dai Davies, of Llwyndewi Isaf Farm, Whitland, has pledged to do all he can to make agriculture a more attractive option for the younger generation.

I realise the responsibility that rests on the shoulders of the NFU to help secure a sustainable and fair income for Welsh farmers, he said as he began his first week in office.

There is also a dire need to inject young blood into the industry to secure our future.

Mr Davies, who described his election as a great honour, replaces Peredur Hughes who takes over at the helm of NFU Cymru as its president.

Mr Davies and his wife, Jean, operate dairy, beef and arable enterprises on 460 acres of owned and rented land at Llwyndewi and East Regwm farms.

As the son of a Llandovery hill farmer, he bought Llwyndewi in 1974 when his brother, Cywil, returned from New Zealand where he had been working on a dairy farm.

Mr Davies has been active in the NFU for several years. In 1999 he was chairman of the Carmarthen branch and currently chairs the Carmarthenshire NFU Milk Committee.