Gwynedd Maldwyn MSs join NFU Cymru on Berriew farm to mark Welsh Farming Week

Members of the Senedd representing Gwynedd Maldwyn got to see sustainable food production in action as part of an on-farm event organised by NFU Cymru to mark Welsh Farming Week.

Elwyn Vaughan MS and Andrew Griffin MS visited Trefnant Hall Farm in Berriew, Welshpool recently as part of a series of MS engagements events being held across Wales by NFU Cymru during its fifth annual Welsh Farming Week campaign.

The on-farm meetings were arranged to give MSs insight into the day-to-day work of Welsh farmers and the role they play in feeding the nation, whilst also caring for and enhancing their local environment.

During the visit to Trefnant Hall Farm, host farmer Marc Jones provided Elwyn Vaughan and Andrew Griffin with an overview of the working farm and showed the development of their dairy unit, which will begin milk production in August 2027. They currently finish dairy cross cattle in a scheme with Buitelaar, predominantly off grass.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Jones said: "I was pleased to welcome Elwyn and Andrew to the farm today and give them the opportunity to see for themselves the length and breadth of work we are doing here at Trefnant Hall. In particular, I welcomed the chance to demonstrate how we can still produce high-quality protein and encourage the environment to thrive. I think it is also important to be mindful that we have to adapt quickly within a season as the weather can change so rapidly, as we have seen in the past three weeks.’

NFU Cymru Dairy Board Chair and Montgomeryshire Member Jonathan Wilkinson added: “On-farm meetings like this provide such valuable engagement for us at NFU Cymru, allowing us to continue dialogue with returning MSs or cultivate relationships with those MSs who have been newly elected.

“These opportunities also provide the perfect platform for our members to illustrate how they are delivering for the people and communities of Wales, whether that be food production, environmental management or boosting the local economy. Likewise, the backdrop of the farm can bring the challenges that our members are facing into full focus.

"I'm very grateful to Elwyn and Andrew for making the time to join us today. As Members of the Senedd discuss and vote on devolved policy areas affecting Welsh farms over the course of the next Senedd term, I very much hope that they will continue the positive dialogue we've enjoyed at this meeting and continues to support the efforts of their constituent farmers and the wider industry."