Ahead of the May Senedd election, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is continuing to host representatives from across political parties on farms throughout Wales. These visits are aimed at highlighting the Union’s key policy priorities for the farming sector and rural communities ahead of the next Senedd and Welsh Government term.
As part of this ongoing engagement, FUW President Ian Rickman, alongside FUW representatives, recently met with Reform UK candidates in Pentrefoelas, Conwy, to discuss key issues affecting farming and rural communities.
Candidates present included Richard John Jones and Thomas John Clark (Bangor Conwy Môn), Adrian Mason (Clwyd), Nigel Williams, Paul Ashton and Cristiana Emsley (Flint Wrecsam) and Andrew Griffin (Gwynedd Maldwyn).
The FUW reiterated its manifesto calls for the next Welsh Government to provide adequate funding, maintain close collaboration with the farming industry, and deliver a medium-term financial framework that gives certainty to Welsh farming businesses.
Union officials also outlined their manifesto aims, calling for strong foundations for rural communities and for the Welsh language to be placed at the heart of future policy making. The Union representatives emphasised the importance of recognising the close relationship between Welsh farming and rural life, and the need for joined-up decision-making across areas such as housing, digital connectivity, education, and rural crime.
The FUW is calling on the next Welsh Government to support the findings of the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities by ensuring the Welsh language and the principle of the family farm are central to agricultural and environmental policy. It also urges action to address gaps in rural broadband provision to prevent businesses from being disadvantaged by a shift to online-only services, alongside stronger commitments to tackling rural crime through existing coordination structures and strategies.
The FUW also outlined further key manifesto asks including: tackling farm bureaucracy and red tape; new measures to support young and new entrants into farming, a holistic, science-led approach to bovine TB eradication that addresses wildlife as well as cattle; and a risk-based review of water quality regulations to ensure policies are proportionate, affordable and effective.
Commenting following the visit, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Farmers in Wales are operating in an increasingly uncertain environment, and the decisions made in the next Senedd term will be critical to the future of our industry, our rural communities, and the Welsh language. This election is a key opportunity to ensure Welsh agriculture is supported with long-term stability, fair funding, and policies that reflect the realities of farming on the ground.
“We’re grateful to the Reform UK candidates for meeting with us ahead of polling day, and we look forward to continuing to engage with all political parties in the run-up to the Senedd election to ensure the voices and priorities of Welsh farmers are heard across the political spectrum.”
As the Senedd election approaches on May 7, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) continues to engage with political parties across the spectrum, outlining its key policy priorities for the farming sector and rural communities ahead of the next Senedd and Welsh Government term.
As part of this engagement, FUW Ceredigion Chair Emyr Evans welcomed Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz, Welsh Conservative lead candidates for the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency.
During a visit to his dairy farm in Talsarn, Ceredigion, Emyr Evans and his family highlighted a range of challenges facing Welsh agriculture. These included the significant drop in dairy prices in recent months, as well as the impact of the recent conflict in the Middle East on farm finances, particularly through rising fuel and fertiliser costs.
Key to the discussions were the prolonged impact of bovine TB on Welsh agriculture, with representatives from the FUW outlining their key manifesto calls to implement a scientifically supported and holistic approach to Bovine TB Eradication in Wales.
Bovine TB in Wales continues to devastate the wellbeing and economic viability of family farms in Wales, with over 89,000 cattle slaughtered as a result of a Bovine TB positive test over the last 10 years.
As part of their manifesto, the FUW is calling for a comprehensive review of the current Bovine TB Eradication Programme to identify why progress towards eradication has been limited and to ensure effective corrective action is taken. They advocate for a scientifically robust, sustainable, and holistic long-term strategy for Wales, developed through the Programme Board and Technical Advisory Group.
The manifesto also stresses the need for adequate and sustained funding to ensure fair compensation for culled animals and to support the efficient and coordinated delivery of the eradication programme across all stakeholders.
The meeting also provided the opportunity to outline the need for continued collaboration to deliver a fair and fit-for-purpose Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), and the need to strengthen Wales’ food system, highlighting the importance of production, processing, and public procurement.
Commenting following the visit, FUW Ceredigion Chair, Emyr Evans said:
“We were very pleased to welcome Paul and Sam to the farm and to have the opportunity to discuss the real challenges facing Welsh farmers at this time. From the pressures on dairy prices to rising input costs and the ongoing impact of bovine TB, it is clear that rural communities are under significant strain. We are grateful to them for taking the time to listen and engage constructively with these issues on the ground.”
FUW Deputy President, Dai Miles added:
“As we approach the Senedd election, it is vital that the voices of rural Wales are heard clearly and reflected in future policy decisions. The choices made in the next term of government will be crucial for the future of Welsh agriculture, food production, and our rural communities, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations with all parties ahead of and beyond polling day.”
Ahead of the Senedd elections on 7 May, the Farmers’ Union of Wales recently met with Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate Glyn Preston to outline the Union’s key priorities for the next Senedd and Welsh Government.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats’ lead candidate for the new Gwynedd Maldwyn constituency met FUW Montgomeryshire County Chair Wyn Williams on his 280-acre hill farm near Llanfair Caereinion, where they were also joined by FUW President Ian Rickman.
During the meeting, the FUW reiterated its key manifesto calls for the next Welsh Government to provide adequate funding, maintain close collaboration with the farming industry, and deliver a medium-term financial framework that gives Welsh farming businesses greater certainty.
As part of its election priorities, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is calling on the next Welsh Government to increase the base-level funding of £238 million for the Universal Layer of the SFS by an amount that fully mitigates the estimated economic impacts and supports the Scheme’s ambitions. Based on the Government’s own assessments, this would require an increase of at least £76 million.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the FUW to outline its wider ambitions for the sector ahead of the Senedd election. These included reducing on-farm bureaucracy, delivering a science-led and properly resourced strategy to eradicate bovine TB, and addressing ongoing concerns surrounding NVZ regulations and the unintended consequences they continue to create for family farms.
Commenting following the visit, FUW Montgomeryshire Chair Wyn Williams said: “It was great to welcome Glyn Preston to our farm and to have the opportunity to discuss the key issues facing Welsh agriculture. Visits like this are invaluable in ensuring candidates understand the realities on the ground and the challenges that family farms are currently facing.”
FUW President Ian Rickman added: “As the crucial Senedd election approaches, we continue to engage with candidates from across the political spectrum through hustings, candidate briefings and farm visits.
"This latest visit with Glyn Preston provided a further opportunity for the Union to outline our key priorities for the next Senedd and Welsh Government. It is essential that future policy decisions deliver stability, fairness, and long-term confidence for Welsh family farms, which remain at the heart of our rural economy and communities.”
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is strengthening its local presence in Meirionnydd with the appointment of Ffion Prysor Jones and Llio Roberts, underlining their continued investment in frontline support for farmers across Wales at a time of significant change for the industry.
Ffion Prysor Jones, from Trawsfynydd, joins the FUW Meirionnydd team as Member Services Coordinator. A familiar face in the FUW Dolgellau office, she brings valuable experience from her four years working from Dolgellau with FUW Insurance Services.
Meanwhile, Rhydymain’s Llio Roberts takes up the role of Technical Advisor (North Wales), adding further capacity and expertise to the union’s advisory services. With a firm farming background, Llio’s appointment strengthens the FUW’s ability to support members through an evolving policy and farm support landscape.
Both Ffion and Llio join Heledd Teleri Williams, Member Services Manager for Meirionnydd, as part of a growing team dedicated to delivering practical, on-the-ground support for 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 Heledd, I have no doubt that Ffion and Llio will be excellent additions to the Dolgellau office, helping to support members and rural communities as farmers navigate the biggest changes in farm support in generations.”
With the Single Application Form window open until 15 May 2026, FUW Meirionnydd continues to support farmers as they consider their options between the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and a tapered Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
To learn more about how FUW Meirionnydd staff can help, contact the office at
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has raised concerns following the implementation of new telecommunications rules which could see farm businesses suffer rental income cuts of up to 90% for hosting mobile phone masts.
The changes, which extend valuation reforms to thousands of existing agreements across the UK, will affect around 15,000 sites from April 2026. Under the revised framework, rents are calculated using a “no-scheme” basis that disregards the commercial value of land for telecoms use, resulting in significant reductions in payments to landowners.
The FUW has warned that, while improving rural connectivity is a shared priority, the current approach risks damaging the very partnerships needed to deliver it. The Union’s concerns are echoed by a coalition including the British Property Federation and APWireless warning that extending the system could worsen tensions between telecoms operators and site providers.
For many Welsh farmers, income from telecoms infrastructure has historically provided an important and stable source of income, helping to offset some volatility in agricultural markets. However, the scale of the reported reductions threatens to remove this vital revenue stream at a time when farm businesses are already under significant financial pressure. The Union is particularly concerned that retrospective changes undermine confidence in contracts and long-term planning.
Commenting, FUW Land Use & Climate Change Committee Chair, Tim Faire said: “Farmers are keen to support the rollout of vital digital infrastructure, but these reforms risk punishing landowners who have long enabled mobile connectivity. Fair compensation and stable agreements are essential if landowners are to be encouraged to engage with these initiatives and rural Wales is to benefit from improved coverage.”
The FUW has also warned that the reforms could prove counterproductive. A breakdown in trust between landowners and telecom operators, alongside reduced financial incentives, may discourage participation in hosting infrastructure. This could ultimately limit the availability of suitable sites and slow progress toward improving digital connectivity in rural Wales.
The coalition has also highlighted that a key safeguard - a complaints mechanism under Section 70 - has yet to be implemented. Without it, there is currently no clear independent route to resolve disputes or concerns about conduct, and the group is calling for this mechanism to be introduced alongside a review of the framework.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales is calling on the UK Government to review the current regime and work with stakeholders to deliver a fairer system.
