New Fellows and Associates for Royal Agricultural Societies
Three Welsh farmers have been made Associates of the Royal Agricultural Societies for their contributions to the industry and seven existing Associates have progressed to become Fellows for their continuing work in various sectors of agriculture.
The new Associates are: Alun Wynne Davies of Morfa Nefyn, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, who has received the honour for his contribution to the success of the Lleyn breed of sheep. He has been involved in the development and expansion of the breed since joining the Lleyn Sheep Society as a 15 year-old, serving as chairman and currently as vice-president. In 1971 the society had only 12 members. By 2009 membership reached 1500 and what was then a rare breed, native to the Lleyn Peninsula, has become one of the most popular, well-known and sought after sheep breeds in Britain.
Gethin W.T. Havard of Pentrefelin, Sennybridge, Brecon, is well-known in Wales as a judge and breeder of quality beef cattle and sheep, and has also been an outstanding contributor to the YFC movement. He is a past chairman of the Brecknock Hill Cheviot Sheep Society and approached Marks & Spencer in 2001 with a view to branding and marketing lambs. Their response led to the setting up of Brecknock Hill Marketing, a relationship which has resulted in the sale of between 5000 and 10,000 lambs annually through M&S retail outlets. Five years ago he was elected to the British Wool Marketing Board as the board member for South Wales.
John Owen of Rowen, Conwy, farms 875 hectares running from sea level to Carnedd Llewelyn, the second highest mountain peak in Wales. The farm carries a dairy herd of 70 pedigree Holstein cows and young stock replacements, 150 Suffolk and Texel cross hybrid ewes and 1450 pure Welsh Mountain ewes. He is a past chairman of the Caernarfonshire branch of the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society and as well as his work in practical farming he is a member of the Presidential Team of NFU Cymru, and has chaired the NFU Cymru LFA board for the last five years, representing fellow farmers at meetings with Welsh Government Ministers and senior executives where he has proved to be a fervent and robust advocate for the industry.
The seven new Fellows of the Royal Agricultural Societies include Mrs Kay Spencer of Raglan, Monmouthshire, an Associate since 2006 and former secretary of the Monmouthshire Show Society for 18 years. A member of the board of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society she was appointed Director of the society’s Spring Festival in 2009 and is a former chairman and an Honorary Life Member of the Asociation of Show and Agricultural Organisations. She was awarded the MBE in 2011 for her services to the agricultural community in Monmouthshire.
The other Fellows are: David Sorton Davies of Ceulan, Croesyceiliog, Carmarthen, formerly Assistant Faculty Manager at Coleg Sir Gâr, Gelli Aur, and now Curriculum Area Head for the entire land-based sector at the college responsible for agriculture, countryside studies, equine studies and animal care. Recently, he has also been appointed Head of Agricultural Engineering. He is also co-owner of the famous Ceulan Stud, established 118 years ago, and is a Life Member of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society. He was the youngest member of the society to be appointed as a judge and has officiated at over 150 shows including the Royal Welsh.
Peter T. L. Davies of Penrhiwllan, Llandysul, Ceredigion, is Director of Administration at the Farmers Union of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he has highlighted many causes for concern within the agricultural industry and actively promoted agriculture and the interests of farmers to the public. In 2004 he was elected to Ceredigion County Council and since 2008 has been a cabinet member of the authority with responsibility for the Finance and Personnel portfolio.
Bryan Evans of Newtown, Powys, was made an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies in 2006 when he was manager of the Grassland Development Centre at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Aberystwyth, working on applied
research and the promotion of new technologies to agricultural practice in grassland and livestock production systems. Since his retirement in 2006, Bryan has established Bryan Evans GC, practising as a consultant in grassland and forage crops, ensuring his wealth of experience and understanding of the grassland-based ruminant livestock industry continues to be available in the post CAP reform period.
Professor William Haresign of Llanon, Ceredigion, is Deputy Director and Director of Teaching at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, which has a staff complement of 300 and over 1000 students. He is also actively involved in research into sheep production and breeding including the development of Artificial Insemination and embryo transfer. He has attracted major funding for this ongoing work and was responsible for establishing the spin-off company CBS Technologies (now Innovis) which provides AI, embryo transfer, scrapie genotyping, ultrasound scanning of carcass composition and general breeding advice to the UK sheep industry.
Dewi Jones of Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, is Managing Director of the above company Innovis which was established as a spin-off from the university at Aberystywth in 2004 and is now the leader in its field with 90% of market share.
Five years ago under his direction Innovis embarked on a new business venture to produce breeding ewes and terminal sire lines for commercial prime lamb producers. This enterprise gathered momentum with the establishment of the Aberdale breeding programme which has over 20,000 hill ewes on contract ewe lamb production and some 80 lowland flocks using the Aberdale crossbred ewe. Innovis has also established a second maternal line known as Aberfield which is also developing successfully. The company supplies Welsh producers with over 250 terminal sire rams every year. Innovis has also substantially increased its land holding and is now running more than 1000 acres across three farms.
David Jarrett of Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, is Policy Adviser for NFU Cymru with responsibility for Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Meirionnydd. He also specialises in subjects relating to the environment, Tir Mynydd and common land by representing the NFU in policy matters with the Welsh Government. He has also been appointed to the new CAP Reform Group. He is a member of the British Grassland Society and is involved in practical farming with beef and sheep. His family have a small herd of Dexter cattle with which they supply meat to local butchers.
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