Co-operatives will be hit by CAP mid-term review (From Western Telegraph)

Co-operatives will be hit by CAP mid-term review

EU Common Agricul-tural Policy reform will have implications for agricultural co-operatives like Clynderwen and Cardiganshire Farm-ers Ltd, delegates at a recent seminar were told.

The Welsh Agricultural Organis-ation Society (WAOS) Ltd, the central body for agricultural co-operatives, acknowledged that the mid-term review would lead to lower stock numbers.

Production in many areas would fall, directly affecting organisations like CCF Ltd, which sells feed and fertilisers to farmers.

These co-operatives are regarded as an integral and important part of the fabric of the farming sector with a turnover of nearly £220 million and assets in excess of £40 million.

CCF Ltd's chairman, dairy farmer Stephen James, attended the WAOS Ltd seminar at Aberystwyth.

He heard WAOS Ltd chairman, Richard Morgan, stress that it was essential for directors of farmer-owned businesses to be aware of the effects the proposed changes could potentially have on their businesses. "Collaboration and co-operation is also becoming of interest to many and we need to harness that for the benefit of farmers,'' said Mr Morgan.

It was agreed that while the problems were very real there were opportunities for expansion on existing farmer collaboration in Wales. CCF Ltd recently reported a profit of £93,607 compared to a loss of nearly £29,000 in the previous year.