Fonds GB 0210 WELAGRETY - Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society Archive,

The Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society was founded in 1922 as the central organisation for agricultural cooperation in Wales. Its functions are to promote cooperation amongst Welsh farmers, to represent constituent agricultural societies nationally and locally, and to provide professional guidance and expertise to the societies. The Society originated in the Agricultural Organisation Society, founded in London in 1902, which in 1909-1921 received funding from the Development Commission. In 1902, county councillors from Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire visited Ireland to study its agricultural cooperative movement, and on their return they promoted the establishment of cooperative societies in Wales. In 1906, the AOS appointed a local organiser for Wales; a North Wales section was created in 1910, a South Wales section in 1914, and a Welsh Provincial Council in 1919. The direct block grant which the AOS received from the Development Commission ceased in 1919-1920. In 1921, the Development Commission proposed restructuring of AOS, and this led to the transfer of all matters relating to Welsh agricultural cooperation to the new Welsh AOS from 1 April 1922. After a troubled start, WAOS secured government assistance in 1931. Since then, the Society has been funded by grants and the affiliation fees of constituent societies. The Society is still active. The Society has accumulated a large collection of records of member societies and companies, in addition to its own records.