The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed the appointment of Llŷr Gruffydd MS as the Welsh Government’s new Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability following the recent Senedd election.
The Union has congratulated Mr Gruffydd on taking up the role at a key moment for the agriculture sector, with Welsh agriculture continuing to face significant economic, agricultural and political changes and challenges alongside significant opportunities for the future.
The FUW said it looks forward to continuing its close and constructive working relationship with Mr Gruffydd, having engaged with him regularly over many years on matters affecting farming families, food production and the wider rural economy.
The Union also paid tribute to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, thanking him for his engagement with the sector and recognising the importance of maintaining strong dialogue between the Welsh Government and the agricultural industry.
FUW President Ian Rickman said: “On behalf of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, I would like to warmly congratulate Llŷr Gruffydd on his appointment as Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability.
“The FUW has worked closely with Llŷr Gruffydd over many years, and we have always appreciated his understanding of the challenges facing Welsh agriculture and the importance of the sector to the social, cultural and economic fabric of Wales.
“Mr Gruffydd takes on the role at a pivotal time for Welsh agriculture and our rural communities, and we look forward to understanding how farming and food production will be prioritised and positioned within this new portfolio, and what that will mean in policy and practical terms for the sector.
“We also look forward to continuing this constructive engagement, and working closely to ensure the delivery of manifesto commitments on key priorities including future farm support, bovine TB, on-farm regulations, and securing a thriving, sustainable future for family farms and food production in Wales.”
New Senedd
The Union added that the coming Senedd term would be particularly significant for Welsh agriculture, as the sector continues to navigate policy changes, market pressures and increasing expectations around climate and environmental delivery.
The FUW stressed the importance of ensuring future agricultural policy strikes the right balance between food production, environmental ambitions and the need to maintain productive, profitable family farms across Wales.
The FUW also used the opportunity to congratulate all newly elected and returning Members of the Senedd following the election, noting the importance of strong cross-party engagement on rural and agricultural matters during the next Senedd term.
During the election campaign, the FUW undertook an extensive programme of engagement activities with candidates standing across Wales. These included farm visits, husting events and policy briefings, providing candidates with an opportunity to hear directly from farmers and FUW representatives about the changes and challenges affecting the sector.
Key issues highlighted by the FUW during the campaign included the future of farm funding, food security, bovine TB eradication, water quality regulations and measures to support the next generation of farmers.
The FUW said it was encouraged by the level of engagement shown by candidates throughout the campaign and welcomed the opportunity to continue those conversations with Members from across the political spectrum in the new Senedd.
FUW Deputy President, Dai Miles said: “The election campaign provided an important opportunity to engage with candidates from all parties and to highlight the priorities and concerns of our members.
“We were pleased by the positive engagement we received throughout Wales and look forward to building on those relationships over the course of the new Senedd term.
“The FUW remains committed to working constructively with the Welsh Government and Members from across the chamber to secure a sustainable and thriving future for Welsh family farms and our rural communities.”
The Union added that collaboration between Government and the farming industry would be essential in addressing the challenges facing the sector while ensuring Welsh farming continues to play a central role in the nation’s economy, culture and environment.
In their recent submission to DEFRA’s Call for Information on the UK-EU SPS Agreement, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has reiterated its strong principle that the UK Government should seek a long-term arrangement with the EU that maintains simple, tariff-free access to the Single Market.
The UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement Call for Information, launched by Defra in March 2026 was a six-week consultation seeking evidence and views from businesses and stakeholders across the agri-food sector to inform the government’s approach to implementing a new SPS trade deal with the EU. It aimed to gather practical insight on how the proposed agreement - covering areas such as animal and plant health, food and feed safety, labelling, and pesticide regulation - would affect organisations, including the costs, benefits, and any required changes to operations.
The FUW’s submission highlighted the importance of the EU market to Welsh agriculture, noting that Welsh food and drink exports were valued at £813 million in 2023, with approximately 75% destined for EU countries. Key dependencies include around a third of Welsh lamb exports, 90% of beef exports, and 95% of dairy exports, alongside significant reliance on EU imports of agricultural inputs.
While recognising the potential economic benefits of a more streamlined trading relationship, the FUW raised a number of concerns regarding the proposed SPS framework. These include the implications of regulatory divergence, animal health and welfare standards, antimicrobial and organic regulations, bovine tuberculosis vaccination policy, food labelling requirements, and the status of precision-bred organisms. Questions were also raised around the scope of animal identification and surveillance systems, including bovine EID tagging.
The FUW also stressed the need for clarity on how any agreement would be assessed, implemented, and reviewed. In particular, it called for full economic impact assessments prior to final agreement, clearer understanding of legislative and ratification processes, and transparency on how regulatory alignment or divergence would affect Welsh producers in practice.
The Union further urged the UK Government to engage not only with devolved administrations but also directly with industry stakeholders across all devolved nations, ensuring that any agreement supports UK-wide agri-food and environmental objectives and reflects practical operational realities for food and farming businesses.
Commenting following their submission, Alan Gardner, Chair of the FUW’s Rural Affairs Committee said: “While an SPS agreement could bring benefits in reducing friction and restoring smoother trade with the EU, it is essential that Welsh farmers are not placed at a disadvantage through unintended consequences or a loss of influence over future standards. Clarity, transparency, and meaningful engagement with the industry are critical if this agreement is to work for agriculture in Wales and across the UK.
"Ultimately, achieving a stable, transparent and frictionless trading environment remains essential to the long-term sustainability of Welsh agriculture and our rural economies.”
The FUW also reiterated its support for stronger cooperation between the UK and EU on biosecurity and enforcement measures to combat the illegal movement of meat and food products.
The FUW’s full submission can be found here.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales has raised concerns regarding the cost and delivery of veterinary services associated with the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) universal requirements.
Writing to the Welsh Government, FUW President Ian Rickman has outlined issues relating to Universal Action 12 (UA12), particularly the Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC), as the Single Application Form (SAF) deadline approaches.
The Union reports that some farmers are encountering high and variable costs for completing AHIC requirements, alongside a lack of clarity around what is expected. In one example, a veterinary practice in south Wales has quoted a fixed fee of £500 plus VAT for completing the AHIC, including associated assessments and documentation.
The FUW has also been made aware that some veterinary practices are currently unable to provide quotes, citing a need for further guidance. This has contributed to uncertainty among farmers as they consider participation in the scheme.
Commenting on the situation, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Our members need clear and consistent information in order to make informed decisions about entering the scheme. At present, there is some uncertainty around both the requirements and the associated costs, which is causing apprehension within the sector.
"Greater clarity for both farmers and veterinary practices would help ensure the scheme can be implemented in a way that is fair, proportionate and workable on the ground.”
The FUW notes that completion of all Universal Actions is required to access SFS payments, and has emphasised the importance of ensuring that requirements are practical and proportionate.
The Union has asked the Welsh Government to provide further clarification to veterinary practices on the scope and delivery of AHIC requirements, to offer guidance on appropriate pricing approaches, and to provide reassurance for farmers where extortionate costs may be outside of their control.
The FUW has indicated it is keen to continue discussions with Welsh Government officials to help ensure the scheme is implemented in a way that is workable for all farming businesses.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has stressed the need for a joined-up and collaborative approach to food security and farm profitability in discussions in Westminster with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Farming Minister, Dame Angela Eagle MP.
FUW President Ian Rickman and Deputy President Dai Miles met the Minister to highlight the growing impact of global instability - particularly the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region - on UK farming, production costs, and food supply resilience. They were also joined by Wales Office Minister, Anna McMorrin MP.
The FUW emphasised that the conflict has significantly increased pressure on key agricultural inputs and energy costs. Since its escalation, fertiliser prices - particularly urea and ammonium nitrate - have risen by 20 to 30%, with the Union calling for better transparency around fertiliser stocks and distribution across the UK.
At the same time, fuel costs have also risen sharply, with red diesel effectively doubling in price. More broadly, agricultural fuel and energy costs across the sector continue to increase, placing additional pressure on farm businesses already facing tight margins.
These combined rises are feeding through the entire food supply chain, increasing costs for production, transport, processing, and manufacturing, and are expected to contribute further to food price inflation.
The FUW reiterated its call for a UK-wide legislative food security metric, to be taken forward by the next Welsh Government in collaboration with the UK Government, to strengthen the resilience of domestic food systems.
The Union stressed that food security is a cross-UK issue, affecting all four nations through closely integrated agri-food supply chains. It said a coordinated, long-term approach is essential, reflecting recommendations by Baroness Batters for a Great Britain-wide agricultural partnership.
The FUW referenced recent government evidence, including DEFRA’s 2024 Food Security Report and its 2025 national security assessment on biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse. These highlight long-term risks to food production, including climate change, nature decline, animal and plant disease pressures, supply chain disruption, and exposure to volatile global markets.
Commenting following the meeting, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet Minister Eagle and Minister McMorrin, and highlight the continued impact of recent global instability on Welsh farmers.
"Food security is national security, and recent global instability has made that clearer than ever. Farmers are facing surging cost pressures, particularly from fertilisers and sharply rising fuel costs such as red diesel, which in some cases have doubled.
"These are forces far beyond their control, yet they directly threaten the resilience of our food system. We urgently need a coordinated UK-wide approach that recognises the strategic importance of domestic food production and reduces our exposure to volatile international markets.
"With that must come regular and meaningful engagement between DEFRA and agricultural stakeholders across the UK - including the FUW - particularly on policy areas that remain reserved to the UK Government.”
The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) is strengthening its local presence across Pembrokeshire and west Wales with the appointments of Elizabeth King and Bethan Morgan, reinforcing its ongoing investment in frontline support for farmers during a period of significant change for the industry.
Elizabeth King joins the FUW in the newly created role of Regional Lead, working across west Wales to oversee and support the Union’s member services. She brings vast experience from previous roles in agricultural policy and advisory services, including working for a national rural charity and advising on farm diversification projects.
Bethan Morgan joins the Pembrokeshire office as a Member Services Co-ordinator supporting the delivery of day-to-day services to FUW members locally. Born and raised in Pembrokeshire, she spent the past 27 years working at a mixed veterinary practice.
They join the experienced team of Rebecca Voyle, Member Services Manager for Pembrokeshire, and Susan James, Member Services Co-ordinator, forming a strengthened FUW presence in the County focused on providing practical, on-the-ground support to farmers.
Commenting on the appointments, FUW Group Chief Executive Guto Bebb said: “As a Union, we are committed to investing in our people and strengthening the services we provide to members. These appointments reflect our determination to ensure farmers have access to the local knowledge, expertise and support they need.
"Working alongside Rebecca and Susan, I have no doubt that Elizabeth and Bethan will be excellent additions to the Pembrokeshire team, helping to support members and rural communities as farmers navigate the biggest changes to farm support in generations.”
With the Single Application Form window open until 15 May 2026, FUW Pembrokeshire continues to support farmers as they consider their options between the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and a tapered Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
For more information, contact the Pembrokeshire office at
