As autumn sets in, dramatic images of the wild fires of the summer just gone, the hottest on record, will remain bright in the minds of many.

Of the 3500 grass fires recorded across Wales during 2026, more than 170 extended over an area of more than 1 hectare.

Set against the backdrop of an exceptionally demanding summer for Welsh fire and rescue services, the Wales Wildfire Board has launched ‘Burn to Protect’, a campaign that brings together organisations to develop a shared understanding of wildfire risk and a coordinated approach to reducing its impact.

Its publication is timely as the 1st of October marks the beginning of the period when controlled burns are allowed on upland areas and which runs until 31 March (1st of November until 15 March in other areas).

The rules for controlled burning are set out in the The Heather and Grass Burning Code for Wales 2008.

The Code recognises that carefully planned, periodic, controlled burning can be beneficial for agriculture, game management, wildlife conservation and the wider environment.

Readers who are planning to undertake controlled burns will no doubt be familiar with the detailed requirements set out in the Code, and will have prepared ‘burn plans’ in line with those available on the Welsh Government website Burning Management Plan for Wales.

The Burn to Protect campaign reinforces the requirements of the Code and highlights key considerations:

• No burning between sunset and sunrise.
• Ensure there are enough resources available to manage the fire effectively and extinguish it if required.
• Inform neighbours and ensure that livestock is in a safe place away from the fire path.
• Consider cutting a ‘fire break’ to prevent fire spread.
• Remembering that fire will travel uphill quicker and will burn more intensely than it does downhill, and it can spread quicker than you can run.
• If you light it, don’t leave it! It is your responsibility to ensure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving the area.
• Only burn a small manageable area at a time. In easy burn conditions, it is recommended that 1 person can efficiently manage a 5-meter fire line.
• Grass fires are extremely unpredictable and can spiral out of control within minutes.
• Always inform your local Fire and Rescue Service before a Controlled Burn and after a burn is complete.

As one of the partners to the Wales Wildfire Board, the Farmers’ Union of Wales welcomes the campaign and its aims to support safer communities, more resilient landscapes and a stronger partnership approach to wildfire prevention across Wales.

In launching the new campaign, there was a recognition by the three Welsh fire and rescue services of the valuable contribution made by farmers in sourcing water to tackle the recent fires. As is so often the case, the farming community is there to support the wider community when the need arises.

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.

FUW Policy Officer Teleri Elias, Talgarreg dairy farmer Hywel Dafis and Llyr Gruffydd, Welsh Government Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability discuss the latest developments on Ffermio. Subtitles available.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0pbnbyb/ffermio-mon-05-oct-2026

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.”