“Welsh farmers cannot - and should not - be expected to do more for less”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has used its annual Farmhouse Breakfast event, held on Wednesday (21 January) at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay, to set out its key manifesto priorities ahead of May’s Senedd election, once again calling to safeguard three simple, yet fundamental principles: land, family and heritage.

Sponsored this year by Samuel Kurtz MS, the flagship Cardiff Bay event brought together politicians, industry stakeholders and FUW office holders for a traditional ‘farmhouse’ breakfast, highlighting the best of Welsh produce while showcasing the vital role agriculture plays in Wales.

The gathering marked part of the wider FUW Farmhouse Breakfast Week, a series of events designed to bring rural communities together and raise money for charity. In total, 23 breakfasts are being held across Wales in January 2026, attracting hundreds of attendees and raising thousands for charities, including the Wales Air Ambulance.

With just over 100 days remaining until the Senedd election, FUW President Ian Rickman used his address to highlight the Union’s call for a fair financial framework for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), as it moves from years of consultation and debate into its delivery phase.

As part of its manifesto priorities, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is calling on the next Welsh Government to increase the base-level funding of £238 million allocated to the Universal Layer of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). The Union argues that funding must be uplifted to fully mitigate the scheme’s projected economic impacts while supporting its long-term ambitions.

FUW President Ian Rickman also highlighted the vital role family farms play in sustaining Wales’s landscapes, rural communities and cultural heritage. He stressed the need for meaningful progress in tackling bovine TB, alongside a genuine commitment to strengthening the Welsh food system amidst growing challenges.

The event was also attended by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca Davies MS. In his speech, the Deputy First Minister thanked the FUW for their close collaboration as part of the Sustainable Farming Scheme discussions. He also took the opportunity to announce a mandatory, standardised system for classifying sheep carcasses and price reporting that comes into force on 28 January.

As part of his speech, FUW President, Ian Rickman said:

“After almost a decade of discussion, debate - and at spirited times disagreement - the Sustainable Farming Scheme now moves from design into delivery, marking a generational shift in how Welsh farming is supported and sustained.

As I have said consistently since July, the Scheme is not perfect, and there remains important work to be done.

“As farmers now begin to familiarise themselves with what the Scheme means for their businesses, I have every confidence we will do what Welsh farmers have always done best: adapt, innovate, and move forward.”

“However, ambition must be matched by realism. Welsh farmers cannot - and should not - be expected to do more for less. If the Scheme is to succeed, it must be underpinned by an increased budget and a robust financial framework - learning from the Welsh Government’s own impact assessments, and securing the stability and long-term certainty that Wales’ farm businesses and agri-food supply chains require.”