Finding and restoring and old farm workhorse is becoming a passion for many, but some unusual items continue to show themselves. Pictured is a 1954 Ferguson TE20 diesel, owned by Ronald and Michael James, of Tavernspite, but the strange contraption on the back is an Allman powder applicator used to treat crops, but which is operated by pressure from the tractor's exhaust.

Learning a new language!

The vast majority of farmers have always taken great pride in their land using skills handed down for generations, the hedges have been trimmed back regularly and good fences well maintained, gates hung properly and ditches cleaned on a regular basis. But is seems as though the majority may have to go back to school, learn to do things differently and even come to understand new words in the English language. Margaret Beckett recently announced a package of 'light touch and common sense' measures which, she considers, will set a new environmental standard for agriculture. On offer on the table is more money for rural development and new measures to promote more environment-friendly and sustainable farming and also to give extra protection to the environment, soil, wildlife habitats and the landscape. But in order to achieve all this farmers must accept new terms of 'modulation' and take on board the requirements of 'cross compliance'. To meet the requirements of the CAP reform, farmers are being told that they must 'keep their land in good agricultural and environmental condition, and meet existing Europe-wide laws on environment, animal health and welfare, public health and plant health'. Under cross-compliance, farmers are being told to 'protect hedges' by not cultivating, or fertilising, within two metres and to leave a minimum uncultivated strip as a qualifying condition for hedgerow management. However, the government gives an assurance that it wants inspections enforcing cross-compliance conditions 'to be cost-effective and proportionate'. The end result, they say, will lead to looking after the landscape, protecting wildlife habitats, and give people a countryside everyone can enjoy. This ponders the question: What have we been doing for the last 300 years?

Thank a farmer

Chips were the stable diet of many visitors to the County Show this week, but the NFU would like to encourage those people to fully recognise and thank the local potato growers because without their hard work they wouldn't be able to enjoy their favourite meal! Robert John is a grower from Pembroke and is featured as the potato producer in the NFU's 'Thank a Farmer' campaign which is touring the country this summer to highlight the importance of Welsh farming to consumers by reminding them that farmers produce the food they eat. Eighteen-year-old Robert, who farms with his parents, David and Kathleen, at Lammaston, grows 50 acres of potatoes and sells his 400 tonne crop of premier early Pembrokeshire potatoes to a potato merchant who then distributes them to stores. "It's great to be part of this campaign to highlight the work that we do to the public. The slogan for the campaign, 'Have you eaten today? Yes, then thank a farmer', actually originated from Pembrokeshire - something we are very proud of," says Robert.

Honour

The writer of this column is deeply honoured this week to be in receipt of the annual Idris Davies Memorial Prize. The award is announced each year at the Pembrokeshire Show and 'is in recognition of an outstanding contribution to agriculture in the county, to promoting the many and varied aspects of the industry and for work with and encouragement for the Young Farmers Club movement over many years'.

Local show time

Major attractions in our circulation area next week are the agricultural shows at Martletwy (on the Downs at Cresselly) on Wednesday, August 25, and at Clynderwen on the following Saturday. Months of hard work and preparation go into organising these popular events which, in so many ways, represent the true heart of the countryside. Both have their origins in the Young Farmers Clubs movement in their own localities and it is to their great credit that successive generations have seen fit to ensure that they are kept going, are a delight to visit and provide very happy and memorable social occasions.

Sale welcomed

The sale last week of a major milk processing business -including the Associated Co-operative Creameries (ACC) Llangadog creamery which has been accepting a large volume of milk produced in south Pembrokeshire - to a farmer-owned co-operative has been generally welcomed. West Wales dairy farmer Bryan Walters said: "I'm delighted that ACC is now part of a DFB farmer-owned co-operative which means that producers will remain in control of its operation and share in its future success. Linking the two businesses will create a major new co-operative force in the highly competitive dairy sector and it is expected to add an innovative new dimension to the trade. "DFB's goal was to provide a sustainable milk price and a profitable platform for growth for its members," he added.