A MONMOUTHSHIRE sheep farmer has won one of the most prestigious prizes in Welsh agriculture.

Maurice Trumper, of Llanfair Kilgeddin, near Abergavenny, will receive the John Gittins Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the Welsh sheep industry.

Mr Trumper, OBE,who now farms in partnership with his son, lambs more than 1,000 ewes each year including 150 Ile de France sheep. Their flock is the largest and oldest of the breed in England and Wales.

His contributions to the industry extend over more than 50 years, during which time he has held a succession of offices through the National Farmers Union. He has been chairman of the NFU’s Welsh Livestock Committee, vice-chairman of the Livestock Marketing Committee for England and Wales and chairman of the NFU Welsh Council.

During his time as chairman of the Welsh Livestock Committee he negotiated a deal with the Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society whereby producers paid a voluntary contribution of 4p per ewe to promote Welsh lamb. Later the Meat & Livestock Commission collected a levy for lamb promotion and Mr Trumper negotiated a formula for the division of the levy on a pro rata basis between England, Scotland and Wales which was subsequently adopted.

He was also instrumental in putting the case for sheep quotas and lobbying for its acceptance in Brussels. He also figured prominently in discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture over the marketing and movement of sheep affected by the Chernobyl disaster, achieving a breakthrough with the Ministry’s acceptance of a handling payment for lamb of 18p which lasted until earlier this year. He was awarded the OBE in recognition of his services to the agricultural industry.

Mr Trumper, 82, said: “I feel very pleased and very honoured. It’s a national award for the farming industry. I am an office holder for the NFU.

"I have contributed to different causes – when Chernobyl happened the sheep industry was greatly affected. I was involved with talks with Defra and helped set up the sheep regime itself. I have helped promote the use of lamb in Wales and negotiated any issues. We are a traditional farm, with mixed livestock. We have about 1,200 ewes, 270 cattle, 250 pigs and 1,300 turkeys for Christmas.

“We are a family-run farm – me and my son Martyn are in a partnership. This has been a family farm all my life – I inherited the farm from my father. It’s always busy around here really – I’m not going to retire any time soon. My family and the animals are my life. My grandchildren are starting to take an interest in farming with their little flock of sheep – they are only in their early teens.”

Mr Trumper will be presented with the award at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Builth Wells, on December 2.