Representatives of the Farmers’ Union of Wales attended the two-day Plaid Cymru Annual Conference in Llandudno last week, representing the voice of Welsh family farms and engaging directly with politicians, policymakers, stakeholders and conference delegates.

FUW President Ian Rickman, Deputy President Dai Miles and Lauren Price, our Senedd and Parliamentary Affairs Officer held an exhibition stall throughout the conference, providing an opportunity to raise awareness of the issues currently facing Welsh farmers and to discuss the practical challenges affecting the wider agricultural sector.

A wide range of issues were discussed, including the ongoing concerns around bluetongue and the impact of disease on farmers and the Welsh economy. 

The FUW also took the opportunity to highlight the pressing need to implement mitigatory measures for wildfire prevention ahead of next year, including the need to reverse the decline in livestock numbers on common land and upland areas where the lack of grazing is resulting in an ever-increasing fire load. 

Our key message throughout was the need to ensure that agricultural policy reflects the realities faced by farmers on the ground.

The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) was another major topic of discussion. With the scheme’s second year fast approaching, discussions focused on the need for further consideration and potential alterations to the scheme to ensure it works effectively and is truly accessible for all farmers in Wales.

Several stakeholders and Senedd Members raised questions about the impending publication of recommendations on bovine TB policy. FUW delegates emphasised the importance of a practical, evidence-based approach that uses every tool in the box, and recognises the significant impact bovine TB continues to have on farming families and rural communities.

The rising price of diesel and the wider cost-of-living pressures facing farmers were also highlighted against a warning of imminent food-price inflation. Increasing fuel, production and operating costs continue to place significant pressure on farm businesses, at a time when many are already dealing with uncertainty around fodder availability, disease risk and weather conditions.

The conference provided a valuable opportunity to engage with political representatives and ensure that the voice of Welsh farmers remains firmly on the political agenda.

Welsh farmers are desperately in need of support and flexibility with rules and regulations following an exceptionally challenging season, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has told the Welsh Government.

With farmers being forced to choose between vaccinating their animals against Bluetongue Virus and buying winter fodder, FUW representatives raised concerns about the pressing dilemma facing the industry when they met with Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd MS, in Cardiff earlier today, Tuesday 22 September.

The Union pressed the Welsh Government to do all it could to introduce immediate measures to relieve pressure on the industry, including moves to increase the 70% farm support Advance Payments in October to support farmers with their short-term cashflows.

The meeting came after Union representatives pressed for rapid action and forward planning to prepare for the wildfire risk in 2027, and called for the UK Government to establish an Emergency Fund to support farming businesses with short-term crises and financial challenges during meetings with Welsh Office and DEFRA ministers in London on 8 September.

They also reiterated their calls for greater flexibility with the Agricultural Pollution regulations, which will see farmers banned from spreading slurry and other organic manures from 15 October until 15 January 2027 on most grassland soil types. With farmers struggling with fodder availability following an exceptionally dry season, farm businesses across Wales will need to graze, spread slurry and take cuts of silage much later than planned for as long as the weather allows.

Questions were also asked about the timeline for making long-term changes to the Sustainable Farming Scheme, with the FUW highlighting its key asks that require urgent attention to ensure the universal layer of the Scheme is more accessible and practical in 2027.

FUW President Ian Rickman said:

“This year has proven to be extremely challenging for Welsh farming businesses. They have faced extreme weather conditions, disease outbreaks and rising input costs during the most significant transition in agricultural support policies for decades, and we welcomed the opportunity to discuss these challenges and potential solutions with the Cabinet Minister today.

“The situation regarding Bluetongue is very worrying and the direction of travel in England with regards to testing and diagnosis is seriously concerning, highlighting the UK’s lack of resources when it comes to tackling disease outbreaks. The Farmers’ Union of Wales wants to work with the Welsh and UK Governments on a Bluetongue Strategy that gives confidence to the sector that we can work together to properly manage the disease. We do not want to be back to square one in March 2027 where the process starts again.

“Coupled with a shortage of fodder on many farms due to the recent drought conditions and the hottest summer on record, limited cashflow means some farmers are faced with a pressing dilemma, whether to vaccinate their animals against Bluetongue or buy more forage for the winter. This is why we are calling for immediate action to help relieve this pressure, and increasing the farm support Advance Payments in October would go a long way to support farm businesses in the short-term.”

Speaking about the closed period for spreading slurry, Mr Rickman added:

“The FUW supports action to improve water quality and recognises that agriculture has a role to play in reducing pollution. However, the current regulations are too rigid, too costly and too bureaucratic. This year’s drought has prevented timely slurry spreading, and there could be serious repercussions if farmers are unable to empty their stores appropriately before the winter.

“This is why we are calling for a blanket derogation for the start of the closed period to allow farmers to appropriately apply nutrients and take silage crops before the winter period. We need a common sense approach based on weather conditions and crop-need whilst also appreciating how vital this would be for winter fodder supply and animal welfare in Wales.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed today’s announcement (Wednesday 23 September 2026) by the Welsh Government that it has increased the advanced payment rate available to farmers under the BPS (Basic Payment Scheme) and SFS (Sustainable Farming Scheme) from 70% to 80% and will legislate to extend the open period for farmers to spread slurry and manure until 15 November.

The announcement comes a day after FUW representatives met with the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd MS, in Cardiff to press for the changes that have been outlined today.

FUW President Ian Rickman said:
“Today’s announcement by the Welsh Government will provide welcome relief to farmers across Wales following what has been an extremely challenging season for farming businesses. With farmers facing the pressing dilemma whether to vaccinate their animals against Bluetongue Virus or buy more forage for the winter, this increased farm support payment in October will go a long way to relieve short-term financial pressure.

“We welcome the pragmatic and timely action the Cabinet Minister has taken in response to our concerns. We look forward to building on this to deliver long-term changes to the Sustainable Farming Scheme, including key areas that require urgent attention to ensure the universal layer of the Scheme is more accessible and practical in 2027.”

The Welsh Government’s announcement also follows on from the publication of the FUW’s policy paper on Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations launched at Usk Show on 12 September.

The paper illustrates how current regulations have significantly increased administrative and financial burdens on farm businesses, yet Natural Resources Wales (NRW) compliance data supports concerns that a significant proportion of recorded non-compliances relate to administrative or record-keeping requirements rather than evidence of pollution incidents or environmental harm.

Mr Rickman added:
“This autumn, many farmers are expecting to graze and take cuts of silage much later than usual following a poor summer harvest, as they try to address the looming shortage of winter fodder that some businesses are already facing. Extending the period for taking out slurry on all soil and land types affords them valuable time to make better use of these nutrients and safely empty their stores as winter approaches.

“However, the need to address the longer term challenges remains. We are calling for a more proportionate, risk-based approach. This would include exploring alternatives to fixed closed periods, reviewing the operation of nitrogen limits, simplifying record keeping and administrative requirements, and enabling greater flexibility and innovation in how the regulations are applied. The regulations as they stand are simply too rigid, too costly and too bureaucratic, and this year alone has shown how farming by calendar does not work.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has met with Plaid Cymru's Westminster spokesperson for the Environment and Rural Affairs Ann Davies MP in Westminster to discuss vital protections for Welsh and UK agriculture ahead of the impending UK Budget.

With the Treasury’s window for official representations closing imminently, the meeting allowed the FUW to discuss several financial challenges for Welsh family farms.

Inheritance Tax (IHT) was a key point of discussion. The FUW reinforced its position that agricultural and business assets should be fully relieved from inheritance tax when passed from one generation to another for farming purposes. It is imperative that the government protects family farms from punitive IHT changes if the issue is re-opened.

An innovative growth strategy; introducing tax incentives for landlords who offer longer tenancy agreements to new and young agricultural entrants, was also discussed. This proactive measure would signal a positive commitment by the Prime Minister to support the next generation of Welsh and UK farmers.

The FUW praised Plaid Cymru’s ongoing efforts to seek clarity on the Prime Minister’s new approach to devolution and future Welsh funding, particularly given the need to revise the Barnett Formula.

To combat mounting volatility, the FUW lobbied for a dedicated UK emergency fund designed to support farming businesses with short-term crises and financial challenges such as the spread of Bluetongue Virus, wildfires and fodder shortages.

Finally, the Union raised pressing concerns regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which will tax imported fertilisers from the 1 of January 2027. The FUW questioned how the government seeks to restore domestic fertiliser production and enquired if an impact assessment has been conducted on the increase in food production costs that will inevitably result from these additional taxes.