The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has launched its Senedd Election Manifesto, ‘Tir - Teulu - Treftadaeth - Standing Strong for Family Farms’, outlining key policy priorities for the farming sector ahead of the upcoming Welsh elections in May 2026.
Launched at the Usk Show in Monmouthshire on Saturday (13 September), the manifesto sets out the FUW’s key policy priorities ahead of next year’s Senedd elections. It calls on the next Welsh Government to provide stability, sustainability and long-term support for Welsh family farms – described as the “foundation of our rural economy, culture and landscape.”
At its core, the manifesto calls for continued collaboration to deliver a fair and fit-for-purpose Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), which is set to be introduced from 1st January 2026. The FUW is urging the next Welsh Government to work closely with the industry to deliver a scheme that secures a thriving and sustainable future for family farms, including a funding uplift from the current Universal-layer budget of £238 million to fully mitigate the Scheme’s estimated economic impacts, an index-linked budget to provide certainty for the future, and a five-year financial framework to ensure businesses can make well-informed decisions with confidence.
The document also emphasises the need to strengthen Wales’ food system, highlighting the importance of production, processing, and public procurement. It calls for genuine support for Welsh produce through shorter supply chains, long-term investment for small abattoirs, and legislative levers to underpin food security.
Other key asks include: tackling farm bureaucracy and red tape; new measures to support young and new entrants into farming, building on the FUW’s Mandate for Future Farmers report; 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.
The manifesto also calls for land use decisions to balance economic, social and environmental goals, rewarding farmers fairly for their role in climate action and biodiversity. It stresses the need to strengthen rural communities and support the Welsh language, as well as secure Wales’ biosecurity through greater collaboration with UK Government and stakeholders to tackle illegal meat imports.
Commenting following the launch of the manifesto, Ian Rickman, FUW President, said:
“As the FUW marks 70 years of standing strong for Welsh family farms, we are calling on the next Welsh Government to build on the recent progress made through constructive engagement on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Family farms are the backbone of Wales’ economy, culture and landscape – supporting jobs, businesses and communities while producing world-class food.
This manifesto sets out our key asks for the next Senedd and Welsh Government, all rooted in our determination to secure a strong future for family farms, food production and rural communities. We look forward to engaging with candidates during the pre-election period, and the FUW is committed to working with the next Welsh Government to secure a thriving and sustainable future for family farms in Wales.”
The Farmers' Union of Wales manifesto is available to be read in full here.
This Rural Crime Action Week (8th - 12th September), the Farmers’ Union of Wales and FUW Insurance Services Ltd are reminding farmers of the importance of being vigilant to the growing threats facing rural communities, with farmers often bearing the brunt of criminal activity.
Crimes such as machinery and livestock theft, vandalism, and trespassing are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leaving farmers vulnerable and eroding the traditional sense of security in the countryside.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has responded to changes to the Ministerial Team at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and called on the UK Government to collaborate closely with Welsh farmers in the face of an increasingly challenging agricultural landscape.
Following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent reshuffle, Emma Reynolds MP, former Economic Secretary to the Treasury, has been appointed as Secretary of State at DEFRA, while Angela Eagle MP, formerly a Minister at the Home Office, has been appointed Minister of State.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed a report published earlier this week by MPs highlighting the dangers posed by illegal meat imports and urging the UK Government to take immediate action to protect farming, food safety and the wider economy.
The report, published by Westminster’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee, warns of “large and increasing volumes” of illegally imported meat entering the UK through ports, airports and the Channel Tunnel. The report described the situation as “unacceptable”, highlighting the lack of clear data, weak enforcement at the border, and the high risk that such products could introduce devastating animal diseases.
The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) is set to host a series of eleven roadshow events across Wales to provide farmers and interested parties with information about the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and the support services available from the Union.
The Sustainable Farming Scheme commences on the 1 January 2026, and marks the most significant change to agricultural policy in Wales in generations. The FUW has subsequently organised a comprehensive series of events across Wales to ensure farmers are fully equipped to navigate the changes and challenges ahead.
