Ahead of May’s Senedd election, farmers were given the opportunity to question political representatives from across Wales’ political parties at a hustings event held at the White Hart Inn, Llandeilo, on Thursday 12 March.

The event was organised by the Carmarthenshire branches of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), NFU Cymru and Carmarthenshire Young Farmers’ Club (YFC). The hustings provided a platform for party representatives to outline their priorities for agriculture and rural communities, as well as respond directly to questions from the audience.

Those in attendance were Parick Loxdale (Conservative), Rob James (Green), Wayne Erasmus (Gwlad), Calum Higgins (Labour), Justin Griffiths (Liberal Democrat), Cefin Campbell MS (Plaid Cymru), Bernard Holton (Reform), and Steve Williams (Independent).

The discussion was chaired by Carmarthenshire YFC’s Daniel O'Callaghan, with the evening focusing on a range of issues facing Welsh farmers and rural communities, including the Sustainable Farming Scheme, tackling Bovine TB, and pylons.

Commenting following the hustings, Carmarthenshire FUW Chair, Huw James said: “We’re very grateful to all candidates for taking their time to support this event. The discussion highlighted just how critical this election will be for the future of Welsh farming. Key issues including the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), the ongoing challenges surrounding bovine TB, and the future of agricultural budgets were central to the debate.

“It was encouraging to hear representatives set out their positions and respond directly to questions from farmers and rural residents. There are strong views across the sector, and events like this ensure those concerns are heard clearly ahead of polling day.”

This year’s Senedd election will see the number of seats increase from 60 to 96, with the new Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency formed from the existing Caerfyrddin and Llanelli Westminster constituencies. The new constituency will elect six Senedd Members via a proportional voting system.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has raised serious concerns about proposals to change the rules surrounding lamb castration and tail docking, warning the measures could have unintended consequences for animal welfare and sheep farming businesses.

Responding to the UK Government’s recent consultation on lamb welfare, the Farmers’ Union of Wales said that while farmers recognise the importance of welfare standards,  the proposals as currently drafted are impractical and fail to reflect the realities of sheep farming systems across Wales and the UK.

The Union emphasised that although castration and tail docking do cause pain, they are essential management tools used to prevent serious welfare issues throughout the life of the animal. These important management procedures reduce the risk of fly strike, prevent unintended pregnancies in ewe lambs, and minimise injuries caused by aggressive behaviour in entire ram lambs.

A key concern raised by the FUW is the proposal to mandate the use of unauthorised pain relief in neonatal and young lambs undergoing these procedures. The Union argues that the proposals are inherently premature due to the current limited options and unauthorised status of medicines specifically for use in lambs. These off-licence medicines have not been tested or researched for use in sheep and are only prescribed through veterinary cascade.

The proposals would also place significant pressure on veterinary services during the lambing period, potentially creating delays in accessing treatment and increasing administrative burdens.

The FUW believes this approach could create risks for both animals and farmers, including the possibility of over-dosing lambs due to extremely small dose volumes, increased risk of infection at injection sites, and additional stress on lambs from repeated handling.

The Union also raised concerns about proposals to extend the upper age limit for routine castration and tail docking from seven days to three months. Members viewed carrying out these procedures on older and larger lambs would likely increase welfare issues and infection.

While members broadly supported the suggestion to delay procedures to allow lambs to receive colostrum and bond with their mother, the Union stressed that a strict 24 hour rule is not a practical proposal.

The FUW also warned that the proposals could place UK sheep producers at a competitive disadvantage if introduced without equivalent welfare standards required on imported lamb. Additional veterinary involvement, medicine costs and increased labour requirements could significantly raise production costs for domestic producers.

The Union believes the proposals would disproportionately affect extensive upland sheep farms, which are particularly important to rural communities in Wales and play a key role in maintaining the rural economy, landscape and the foothold of the Welsh Language.

FUW Animal Health & Dairy Committee Chair, Gerwyn Williams said: “Farmers care deeply about the welfare of their livestock and these procedures are never carried out lightly. However, the proposals outlined in this consultation do not reflect the practical realities of sheep farming and risk creating greater welfare problems than those they seek to address.

“While we recognise the importance of reducing pain wherever possible, the current lack of authorised medicines for use in young lambs and the reliance on the veterinary cascade to prescribe off-label medicines raises serious safety and practical concerns. There is a real risk that these proposals could increase stress on animals, increase health and welfare concerns, and place further pressure on already stretched veterinary services.”

FUW President, Ian Rickman added: “It is essential that any future policy is developed in close partnership with farmers, vets and industry experts to ensure that changes genuinely improve animal welfare without creating unintended consequences for the animals or the farming businesses responsible for their care.”

The FUW is calling for further research and greater engagement with the farming industry before any legislative changes are introduced. The Union believes a more pragmatic approach is needed to ensure future animal welfare policies are both practical and effective across the wide range of sheep farming systems operating throughout the UK.

The FUW’s consultation response can be found in full here.

Wales’ two farming Unions, Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) and NFU Cymru have used their joint fringe event at the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ spring conference in Cardiff, to set out some of their shared asks for the next Senedd and Welsh Government term to assembled delegates and politicians.

In the event chaired by Brecon and Radnor MP, David Chadwick, key messages from both Unions’ Senedd elections manifestos were communicated to the audience. Amongst these was the need for the SFS to provide stability for farmers in Wales, the necessity of fair and sufficient funding for Welsh agriculture, a genuinely comprehensive TB eradication strategy which combats the disease in all its sources, a risk-based and evidence-led approach to water quality, and a review of the regulatory burden faced by farmers.

With recent global events now placing additional financial pressures on the sector, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: "For well over a decade the amount of funding available to support Welsh farmers has remained cash-flat. Inflation has therefore made significant inroads into the real terms value of this funding, whilst farmers are also facing significant and rising costs associated with regulatory and environmental compliance. The unfolding conflict in the middle east has underscored yet again the importance of ensuring that there is sufficient and secure funding available to support Welsh agriculture, and to ensure our farming families are able to carry on producing the food we need in a volatile world."

Developing Abi’s comments further FUW President, Mr Ian Rickan said: "Had the agricultural budget kept pace with inflation it would now be well in excess of £500 million. We need the next Welsh Government to commit to an inflation adjusted, ring-fenced, multi-annual budget which matches our shared ambitions for the sustainable growth of the sector, with the majority of that funding directed towards stability, productivity, and efficiency gains on-farm."

Delegates also heard from the Unions of how future uplifts to agricultural support funding in Wales are now subject to the Barnett formula, with both NFU Cymru and the FUW setting out their shared concerns about the disadvantage such an arrangement means for Wales. NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said ‘When agriculture plays a more significant role in the national economy than in some other parts of the UK, we need to ensure that future uplifts to agricultural support fairly reflect the size and scale of the sector in Wales, rather than being tied to population size via the Barnett formula.

There were also heartfelt thanks from both Presidents for the support of the Welsh Liberal Democrats during the 14-month battle with the UK Government over its inheritance tax changes. With Abi Reader commenting: "After a long, hard-fought campaign, a fantastic outcome was secured in December when we saw the threshold at which IHT kicks in raised significantly. Whilst the taxation of business assets as if they were personal wealth remains misguided, the adjustment of the thresholds upwards, combined with the transferability of the allowance now places most family farms in Wales outside the reach of this destructive tax and that is something to be welcomed."

Bringing proceedings to a close Mr Rickman said: "Both Unions have today emphasised how fair and sustainable funding, evidence-based policymaking and regulatory reform will all be crucial to safeguarding the viability and long-term sustainability of Welsh agriculture.  

"On behalf of the FUW and NFU Cymru I want to say a big thank you to David Chadwick MP for chairing this afternoon’s session and to all those who came along, listened, and contributed to the discussion. Between now and May the 7th we look forward to continuing constructive engagement with all parties to ensure our shared asks are delivered for the benefit of our farmers, rural communities, and the wider Welsh economy.”

Our Head of Communications, Aled Morgan Hughes, recently reminisced with one of the FUW's Life Members, Swancott Pugh.

I was born and raised at Henblas, Llwyngwril, as an only child. Life on the farm was an integral part of my upbringing. Whether it was driving the tractor or spending hours among the animals, farm life shaped my childhood - although I must admit I always preferred the black cattle to the sheep.

I have very fond memories of growing up at Henblas and of a way of farming that has long since disappeared. I still remember the smell of oil from the threshing engine, and the commotion and camaraderie when neighbours gathered together for threshing, shearing, or even killing a pig.

I attended school in Llwyngwril before moving on to Tywyn Grammar School. For a time, I considered studying at Radbrook College in Shropshire, but ultimately I chose to stay at home and farm, working alongside my parents at Henblas.

During those years I was an active member of Bryncrug Young Farmers Club, where I enjoyed the opportunities to cook, compete in the eisteddfod, and take part in folk dancing. It was through the club’s social activities that I met Evan, a hill farmer from Buchesydd, Llanfachreth. We married in 1962 and continued farming at Henblas, where we raised our three children.

Through my marriage to Evan, I became involved with the Farmers’ Union of Wales. My father had been a staunch Conservative and a member of the NFU, whereas Evan and his father had been members of the Union since its early days - although neither had been particularly active.

My involvement in Young Farmers sparked a growing interest in community work, particularly through the Women’s Institute. In 1976 I was elected to the Meirionnydd Executive Committee, and in 1979 I became President of the Llwyngwril branch.

During this same period, our farm began to diversify into tourism. In 1974 we opened a bed and breakfast business at Henblas, and by 1981 had converted some farm buildings into self-catering accommodation. While tourism had already become an important source of income for many farmers in Pen Llŷn, there was very little tourism industry in the Llwyngwril area at the time.

Through this diversification, my interest in tourism grew. In 1985 I had the privilege of representing Meirionnydd on the Union’s Tourism and Diversification Committee, travelling regularly to Aberystwyth for meetings - long before the days of Zoom!

In 1987 I was appointed Chair of the committee and began representing the Union on Tourism Board committees as well. Then, in 1992, to my great surprise, I was elected Vice-President of the Union.

At that time there were very few women in leadership roles within the Union. I remember Mrs Davies from Montgomeryshire telling me on the day of the election, “You’ll gain the men’s respect if you are elected” - and that proved to be true.

I look back warmly on the friendships formed during those years with leading figures such as Alcwyn James and Myrddin Evans.

My time as Vice-President was both busy and challenging, coinciding with the BSE crisis. I remember travelling to London to attend a meeting of around 300 Welsh farmers - mostly men - to discuss the serious concerns facing the industry. The words of a Labour politician from the Valleys still echo in my mind: “Don’t let what happened to the coal industry happen to you.” Shortly afterwards, the hall erupted into a powerful rendition of “Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.”

During that period, the relationship between the Union and the NFU was often portrayed as one of constant disagreement, although much of this perception was driven by the press. I once agreed to be interviewed for Y Sioe on S4C on the condition that I would not be asked about relations between the two unions - but it was the very first question when the camera started rolling!

In truth, there was far too much scaremongering. Across Europe it was - and still is - perfectly normal for more than one union to represent farmers’ interests.

After my time as Vice-President, I stepped back from national work but continued supporting the Union locally. Between 1998 and 2000 I served as President of Meirionnydd.

In 2014 I had the great honour of being appointed a Life Member of the Union.

Throughout my involvement with the Union, it became increasingly clear to me how unique Welsh farms are in terms of their size, character, and culture compared with those in England. For that reason, I have always believed it is vital that Wales has a Union dedicated to representing the specific interests of Welsh farmers - giving them a strong voice on their own terms.