It’s been some year to reflect upon

We started the year with the introduction of a brand new Presidential team both here in Wales as well as in Stoneleigh - a team that accepted a mandate from its membership to take on what will probably be the most challenging mantle that any of us will have experienced.

Spring came along – or rather it didn’t.

And what ensued in the midst of Storm Emma, and the ‘Beast from the East’, was resurgence in our industry’s resilience and capabilities under extremely challenging conditions.

Summer was welcomed with open arms, longing for warmth and dryness following the spring, and so it went on, and on, and, yes you’ve guessed it – another challenge ensued to such an extent that the mythodical ‘Summer of ‘76’ was at long last put to rest and a new generation of farmers could have something to remind their children, and grandchildren, of when reminiscing about the extreme event that was the ‘Summer of 2018’.

Weather wise, the autumn so far is kinder, but without doubt the challenges are far from over.

As the countdown towards our exit from the European Union becomes nearer, the possibility and stark reality of a ‘No Deal’ scenario becomes ever so poignant.

The optimist in me continues to cling on to the hope of a last minute deal, and recalling some of the EU and UK historical negotiating track records, by way of past CAP reforms such as the 1992 MacSharry reforms and Franz Fischler’s Agenda 2000 reforms, these negotiations ran right to the wire, to such an extent that heads of state were locked in smoke filled rooms until a deal was reached.

Often emerging out wearily during the small hours of the morning clutching and waving their successfully agreed treaties in hand - one can only hope that history can repeat itself.

Regardless of the on-going negotiations in Brussels, here in Wales we have the opportunity to help shape our own future and agricultural policy direction.

There are less than two weeks left to respond to the Brexit and Our Land consultation document.

We all have a duty to make an effort to respond, as failure to do so surely mitigates your right to complain in the following years of inequalities any future bespoke policies might bring – so please, if you have not yet done so, make that extra effort to respond.

Finally, and on a much more positive note, I and many of my fellow members here in Clwyd look forward to our centenary dinner and charity race night celebrations held at the end of this month.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get together with family and friends to celebrate the significant achievement of 100 years of solidarity as an industry, and at the same time raise funds for some worthy causes in an enjoyable manner, and whatever the challenges we face for the future, long may we continue towards the next century.

PAUL WILLIAMS

NFU Cymru Clwyd county chairman