20 October 2011

2 minute read

Europe

Announcing the winner at an FUW reception on the eve of the Welsh Dairy Show in Carmarthen, the union's president Emyr Jones said Mr Bennett was a worthy winner due to the breadth and depth of work he has done - and continues to do - to support the dairy industry in Wales.

Mr Bennett says: "I was surprised, but honoured and delighted to be given this award particularly as it is for making a contribution to dairy farming in Wales."

Mr Bennett, of Derwendeg, Maesybont, Carmarthenshire, has spent the majority of his farming career milking pedigree Holsteins in partnership with his wife at Derwendeg. The herd yielded some 7,000 litres per annum with youngstock reared as replacements for the dairy herd or for beef production.

Mr Bennett was appointed DairyCo chairman in March 2007 and as a consequence of that appointment he also sits on the board of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

He is also currently Food Standards Agency vice chairman and a trustee of the Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group. Five years ago he was made an Associate of the Royal Agricultural Society five years ago and, in recognition of his continued outstanding contributions, made a Fellow in 2010.

As DairyCo chairman, he was instrumental in negotiations between the levy board and the Welsh Assembly Government that in 2010 secured £3.3 million of support to the Welsh dairy industry over a period of three years to help improve efficiency, sustainability and added value in the dairy supply chain.

Last month he received the 2011 Dairy UK award in recognition of his important contribution to the development of the UK dairy industry.

TheCattleSite News Desk