SHEEP farmers from across Wales flocked to a tenanted farm in the Brecon Beacons for the Welsh Sheep Event.

Organised by the National Sheep Association (NSA) the biennial, one-day event held on Tuesday, May 16 at Llyn Bedw Farm in Aber near Talybont-on-Usk attracted thousands of visitors.

The event featured 150 trade stands and was supported by breed societies and various organisations that work with the farming community.

There were also competitions, farm tours, demonstrations and sheep dog trials staged throughout last Tuesday’s event as well as serious discussion on the future of sheep industry.

Seminars were held on Brexit and the future funding of farming as well as practical workshops on planning for a healthy flock and advice from the Woodland Trust on how trees can help farmers.

Melanie Doel, the chairman of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, gave the opening address at the event.

She said: "As a national park authority we recognise the importance of the farming industry in shaping the national park and supporting its local communities.

"We fully appreciate, and I fully appreciate as chair, and applaud the work farmers put in to shape these special landscapes in the Brecon Beacons and across Wales.

"I’ve worked and lived for much of my life in this beautiful park and I know how passionate and devoted farmers are to keeping it special.

"We are keen to work with bodies such as the NSA on a day to day basis, but also more strategically in helping to shape policy post Brexit."

She recognised that, with the financing of economic development in many parts of Wales having been largely driven by EU funding, there is real uncertainty about future funding.

It seemed unlikely that the UK would continue to be a part of the Common Agricultural Policy, so there had to be a major re-structuring of the way agriculture works.

Welsh Government agriculture director, Andrew Slade, told the Brexit seminar that in a 25-year career in agricultural policy he had never known such uncertain and challenging times.

He added that "so many things are potentially up in the air," there was risk but also potential opportunity down the track.

There was, though, a bright future ahead for agriculture in the UK, and particularly Wales if risk was minimised and opportunities worked on.

It was important to get the approach to Brexit right across the whole of Wales, the mission was to make the best of Brexit for Wales.

Trade and market access, particularly with red meat, meant access to the European single market is particularly important. About 90% of the 40% of Welsh lamb that’s exported goes to the single market.

The importance of reaching a new trade with Europe was stressed by Merthyr Cynog beef and sheep farmer John Davies, the deputy president of the NFU Cymru farming union.

He said securing a trade deal must be a priority for the next UK government.

The Farmers Union of Wales said the Welsh uplands should be celebrated for the role they play in the UK’s food security and producing affordable food and recognised when considering future public funding.

NSA Cymru Wales chair Llew Thomas said that despite the weather, the crowds had come in huge numbers. The event had been an undoubted success for all concerned and he was grateful to everyone who had brought it together, particularly Event Organiser, Helen Davies.

The event was hosted by Stephen and Lisa Williams, their son, Luke, and Stephen’s father, Godfrey at the farm they rent from Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water.

It has been home to five generations of the Williams family and supports a closed flock of 3,500 sheep and a herd of 70 suckler cows and extends to 1,000 acres with grazing stretching towards Pen y Fan.

Competition winners included Field Options with the best Outdoor Trade Stand, the Blackface with the Best Breed Society Stand and Shearwell Data with the best Indoor Stand.

The Next Generation Shepherd Competition was won by 17-year-old Ben Hanmer, of Ffrith, Wrexham.

A Llandovery Whiteface, shown by Wendy Morgan, won the Native Upland section in the Hogg Sale, while A Owen won the Continental with a Roussin.

The Wool on the Hoof competition was won by a Blue Face Leicester and the Shearing by Eirion Morgan and Will Workman.

Ian Mathers won the Best Sheared Sheep competition.

IDEA’S SHEAR GENIUS!

IT wasn’t all business and serious debate at the NSA Sheep event.

Farmer Eifion Morgan, who’d been asked to organise the shearing competition, introduced a novel twist by challenging shearers to trim their sheep with pedal-powered shears.

Eifion, who farms in the Aber Valley, said: "To run a sheep shearing competition is a lot of work and I decided I could convert a sheep shearing machine that could be run from a bicycle.

"You need someone quite fit to jump on the bike to push the pedals while someone else shears the sheep."