The continuing low milk price, and the 20-day rule were the two major points raised by west Wales farmers when they met with Welsh Euro MP Jonathan Evans at Llwyndewi, Whitland last week.

At the farm of NFU Cymru deputy president, Dai Davies, the leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament and a member of the agriculture committee in Brussels, Jonathan Evans MEP was told by local farmers of some of the many problems facing them.

The Carmarthen county NFU chairman Eric Jones told Mr Evans that the current 20-day rule was making normal agricultural trading impossible.

He said: 'Wales has been clear from foot and mouth since August 2001, but the government still acts as if the disease is in the country. Instead of crippling farmers with this rule, Government should concentrate resources on preventing the disease re-entering the country via illegal imports'.

In reply, Mr Evans told Mr Jones that he believed the government must make a clear distinction between measures required for a country with a disease outbreak and a country clear of disease.

Dai Davies, who milks 180 cows at Llwyndewi, told Mr Evans that he had seen his milk price drop by over four pence per litre compared to the same time last year.

This, he said, meant that 'I can see no future as milk producers in west Wales unless we see an immediate price rise'.

Mr Davies urged Jonathan Evans to 'investigate the competition laws over the whole of Europe to see how other EU governments are supportive of the formation of large farmer owned milk co-operatives while our government - through the office of fair trading - broke up our own Milk Marque blaming EU competition laws for the decision'.

In discussions on the Mid Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy, former NFU Cymru president, Hugh Richards told Mr Evans that'while we all recognise the importance of the review to Welsh Agriculture, the situation of low milk prices and the 20-day rule mean we are just as concerned about getting through this winter with our businesses still viable'.