THE role that agriculture plays in supporting rural businesses in Wales was thrown into sharp focus at the Royal Welsh Spring Festival.

A survey commissioned by the Farmers’ Union of Wales revealed that over two-thirds of respondents were reliant on farming for the survival of their business.

The Spring Festival is a celebration of smallholding and rural life and is fast becoming one of the most popular events in the spring show season.

But for many of the businesses and individuals at the event, the downturn in the fortunes of agriculture is having an impact. Many of those second and third sector businesses are already struggling as a result of the consequential impact of low agricultural incomes and farmgate prices.

FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas, who farms in Pembrokeshire, said the snapshot survey confirmed the potential wider impact there would be on rural Wales if there was to be a further downturn in farm incomes.

“We must remember that agriculture is the powerhouse of the rural economy, generates billions of pounds which benefit a host of industries including many not directly associated with agriculture,’’ he said.

Over 70 percent of the businesses owners who participated in the survey revealed that the business was their main source of income. More than a quarter of the businesses surveyed said they employed more than 10 people, with some of them employing in excess of 50 people.

But, despite the squeeze on the rural economy, there was plenty to be upbeat about at the Spring Festival.

As 2016 is Visit Wales’ Year of Adventure, the festival organisers rose to the challenge and filled the event with fun and educational have-a-go activities, including milking a cow and building a den.

With an emphasis on smallholding, there was an opportunity to participate in workshops, talks and demonstrations on beekeeping, blade shearing, chicken keeping and much more.

#CowsOnTour, a group of NFU Cymru and Wales YFC members, was on hand to explain to younger visitors how food is produced.

The initiative, first created two years ago by Glamorgan farmer, James Hanks, with the help of Glamorgan NFU Cymru County Chairman, Abi Reader, is best known for visiting primary schools.

Ms Reader said the aim was to get children to understand where their food comes from and the journey from farm to plate. “This project is an opportunity to showcase what we as farmers do in terms of food production whilst delivering environmental benefits, and we highlight the importance of the agricultural sector to the general public,’’ she said.

Visitors to the stand were able to grind wheat to make flour and to see how fruits can be combined with milk to make a healthy shake.

The many other attractions proved extremely popular, including the majestic Pembrokeshire Falconry display.

In the livestock sections, there was a record number of entries and the number of rare and native breeds on display was at an all-time high.

Competition was strong among the festival’s entry of 828 sheep drawn from 42 breeds. The supreme individual title was awarded to a North Country Cheviot ewe owned by Julie and Georgina Earle, of Penybont, Carmarthen. The home bred three-year-old ewe is a newcomer to the showring but has all the potential for more success to follow.

For another sheep farmer, there was also much to celebrate when he was named as the 2016 NFU Cymru / Principality Welsh Rural Community Champion, an award that recognises the hard work farmers do off the farm to help their community.

Llyr Jones of Derwydd farm, Llanfihangel glyn Myfyr, Corwen, has run the family farm since he was 19 years old. He farms 1,200 Welsh mountain ewes and with two colleagues founded Blodyn Aur, the Welsh rapeseed oil company, in 2010. He has been a member of the Agri Academy and a Tesco Future Farmer.

Llyr’s local community work involves sitting on the Parish Council committee and he is a former chairman. He organises an annual Farm Sports Day for the village and surrounding area. Llyr also organises a November 5th bonfire night event and supports local charities by sponsoring or donating prizes.

As well as his local community work Llyr started ‘Cam wrth Gam’ with a friend in 2006 to help various areas in Africa to build schools and homes for orphans.

A few years ago, Llyr and his friend drove a van from Wales to Gambia to deliver and install a bore hole machine.

Llyr has raised over £40,000 for charities and has been to more WI and Merched y Wawr meetings than his mum to talk about Cam wrth Gam and to raise money.

NFU Cymru Deputy President John Davies said the competition judges all agreed that Llyr was an extremely worthy winner of this year’s award. “This young man does not do all of his hard community work both here and abroad for any recognition. It was lovely to meet such a modest, yet undeniably hard-working, young man,’’ he said.

Principality Building Society’s Sponsorship and Events Manager Pat Ashman described Llyr as a worthy winner. “I hope that our Welsh Community Champion Award winner will inspire others,’’ she said. “Llyr is an extremely worthy winner of this award, particularly in view of the fact that he has gone well beyond the call of duty with his community work.”