NFU CYMRU welcomed Sir David Henshaw, the interim chair of the Natural Resources Wales board, onto farm recently.

Appointed as the interim chair of the NRW board back in November, Sir David Henshaw visited the farm of NFU Cymru deputy president Aled Jones, an eighth generation dairy farmer who farms with his son, Osian, near Caernarfon.

The visit to Hendy Farm provided the opportunity for Sir David to visit the dairy operation that sells milk to Tomlinson’s Dairies in Wrexham.

Aled Jones said: “It has been a pleasure to welcome Sir David on farm to showcase our farming system here at Hendy and highlight the investments including the new rotary parlour, cattle housing and slurry storage.

"These investments have been made to ensure our business is economically and environmentally sustainable for the long-term.

"Like farmers across Wales, we recognise the role we have to play in caring for and enhancing the quality of our environment alongside our core role of producing safe, high quality, affordable food for the public.”

During the visit, a range of issues were discussed, including the farm’s approach to nutrient management; how farmers can be better supported to improve environmental performance on-farm through advice, guidance and investment funding; the area based approach that NRW is adopting through area statements; as well as how NRW can work better with those it regulates moving forward.

Sir David Henshaw said: “Agriculture is the backbone of the Welsh rural economy and as interim chair of NRW, I’m acutely aware of how of how farming shapes the countryside, rural communities and the health of the rural environment

“In most cases this influence is positive.

"And during our on-farm discussions, we talked about NRW’s role in regulating and advising agriculture in Wales and how we want to continue to work closely with farmers to tackle the root causes of pollution and support environmentally sustainable, and profitable, farming.

“I am thankful to NFU Cymru for organising this visit.”