The introduction of the single farm payment is the single biggest change affecting farmers in west Wales in over half a decade.

But, according to the NFU president Tim Bennett, there are other big issues in 2005 that cannot be ignored.

He told farmers at the Ceredigion NFU annual conference that the current EU rural development regulation consultation process and the unwinding of the over thirty month scheme (OTMS) were two issues that the NFU needed to watch carefully and lobby extensively on over the next 12 months.

Tir Gofal and Tir Mynydd are funded under the rural development programme, the current proposals limit how much can be spent on land management schemes such as these.

NFU Cymru is also very concerned that the proposals as they currently stand could reduce the amount of land in Wales designated as less favoured area (LFA).

Mr Bennett pledged that the NFU would battle to ensure a satisfactory conclusion in terms of flexibility and maintenance of current LFA designations to ensure a deal that represents the needs of Welsh farming.

"We also need a more equitable share of the EU budget. Last time we received only 3% of the total budget whereas by land area we should be looking towards 9%," he said.

On OTMS, Mr Bennett highlighted the huge amount of work the NFU must do to ensure a swift and satisfactory unwinding of the scheme.

He said: "Despite all the hurdles we will continue to push for an early lifting of the OTMS and work to ensure that there will still be a value and an outlet for animals born before August 1996."