By Samantha Castle, Reporter
My Issue, in last Thursday's Weekly News, on how the farming industry is in crisis was a real eye opener, and has totally changed by perception of the support local farmers receive.
Like most consumers, I shop for the best priced products when I do my weekly trolley dash. I'm not usually bothered if it's New Zealand lamb, Spanish strawberrys or Welsh leeks, just as long as I get a good price.
But what about our Welsh and British farmers, who cares if they get a fair price? With rising fuel, feed and fertiliser costs and the after-effects of foot and mouth disease, bird flu and bluetongue, the farming industry is really suffering. Young farmers are leaving the family business and moving away to earn money and many established farmers are working without a wage.
Westminster doesn't seem to want to help farmers, or take responsibility for their own wrongdoings. Although delayed, last week's Budget targets 4x4 drivers and will hike fuel prices up this year. The industry really is at a critical crisis point.
I was glad to discover there is help out there in the form of charitable organisations that offer support to farmers, shoulders to cry on and a dedicated helpline, and benevolent associations that advise and supplement farmers where they can.
And according to one farming union leader there is light at the end of the tunnel, with more protein being eaten in India and China than ever before and the demand for milk in South East Asia is not going to disappear in a hurry either. Also, a round of applause please for Morrisons supermarket who have recently announced that all the fresh meat in all their stores is 100% British. Yippee!
One major lesson I learnt from writing this article is that it's the consumer - you and I - who can help make a massive difference to the farming industry by ensuring we always buy Welsh and British produce when we shop.
After talking to local farmers in-depth about their plight I now solemnly swear that I will always seek out the Welsh and British produce nestled away on the supermarket selves and if they are reasonably priced than I shall diligently make the effort to buy them and help the valuable but fragile industry which we all rely on, but seldom regard - local farmers.
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