With just over 100 days left until the Senedd election, Welsh farmers should not be asked to shoulder increasing demands without adequate financial backing, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has warned.
The message was released at FUW’s annual Farmhouse Breakfast in Cardiff Bay, where the union set out its manifesto priorities and reiterated its call to uphold what it calls its three fundamental principles: land, family and heritage.
The event, held at the Norwegian Church on Wednesday, brought together politicians, industry representatives and FUW office officials for a traditional farmers’ breakfast showcasing the contribution that Welsh produce and agriculture makes to the national economy.
The gathering was held as part of the wider FUW Farmhouse Breakfast Week, which saw 23 events held across Wales in January. The series aims to unite rural communities while raising money for charities such as Wales Air Ambulance.
As the election approaches, FUW Chairman Ian Rickman gave a speech highlighting the future of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), which will replace existing farm support payments and reshape the way Welsh agriculture is funded.
The union is calling on the next Welsh Government to increase the £238m allocated to the SFS universal tier, arguing that the current budget is insufficient to reduce the expected economic impact of the scheme or support its long-term ambitions.
Mr Rickman also highlighted the role of family farms in maintaining Wales’ landscape, rural communities and cultural heritage, and urged meaningful progress in tackling bovine tuberculosis and strengthening Wales’ food system.
The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Hugh Ilanka-Davies MS, who thanked FUW for its close cooperation during discussions on sustainable farming schemes.
He also announced the introduction of a mandatory and standardized system for classification and price reporting of sheep carcasses, scheduled to come into effect on 28 January.
Mr. Rickman told the audience: “After almost a decade of debate, debate and sometimes bitter disagreements, the Sustainable Agriculture System is now moving from design to implementation, marking a generational shift in how we support and sustain agriculture in Wales.”
He added: “As I have consistently said since July, this plan is not perfect and there is still significant work to be done.”
Mr Rickman said farmers would respond constructively as the plan was rolled out. “While farmers are now beginning to understand what this system means for their businesses, I am confident that Welsh farmers will do what they have always done best: adapt, innovate and move forward.”
But he cautioned that ambition must be matched by pragmatism. “Farmers in Wales cannot and should not be expected to do more with less,” he said.
“For the scheme to be successful, it must be supported by increased funding and a strong financial framework, learning from the Welsh Government’s own impact assessment and ensuring the stability and long-term certainty needed for Welsh agribusiness and agri-food supply chains.”
FUW said the next Welsh Government must take decisive action to ensure the scheme provides stability for farmers and the wider agri-food sector.
