Since its creation in 1955, the FUW’s democratic structure has been central to the way in which policies communicated to governments and relevant public bodies are created, and, except where policies are long standing, or stand to reason, this continues to be the case.
The Standing Committees of the Union’s Council are central to the workings of the Union’s democratic structure and the formation of its policies. By 1959, the Union had established a number of operational and policy Committees, namely Livestock, Wool and Marts, Milk and Dairy Produce and Hill Farming and Marginal Land to name a few.
With the ultimate aim of retaining and strengthening the Union’s democratic processes, the Policy Department presented proposals to the Council of the Union in March 2025 to revise the structure of the Standing Committees and their ways of working.
Following a unanimous decision by the FUW Council in June, it was agreed to amalgamate the previous (11) Standing Committees into four overarching Committees as below.
Animal Health & Dairy Committee
Acting Chair: Gerwyn Williams, Pembrokeshire
Acting Vice Chair: Bryan Jones, Montgomeryshire
Policy Team point of contact: Elin Jenkins
The Animal Health & Dairy Committee is responsible for a wide range of animal health issues, including specific diseases such as Bovine TB, seasonal challenges and antimicrobial resistance. It also covers all policy areas relating to dairy production such as milk prices, supply and demand and market development throughout the supply chain.
The newly formed Committee held an urgent meeting on 28th November 2025 to discuss the severe drop in milk prices seen over the autumn, which led to immediate action by the FUW in raising this issue with the Welsh Government.
Land Use & Climate Change Committee
Chair: Tim Faire, Flint
Vice Chair: Dewi Owen, Meirionnydd
Policy Team point of contact: Teleri Fielden
This Committee is the amalgamation of the previous Land Use & Parliamentary and Arable, Horticulture, Cropping & Poultry Committees, with an added focus on the growing work relating to climate change and net zero.
The Committee will also be responsible for water quality, biodiversity targets, environmental elements of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, land use policy, renewable energy and species reintroductions.
The work of this Committee will be of paramount importance to the review of the Control of Agricultural Pollution ‘NVZ’ Regulations and the setting of environmental targets in the near future.
Rural Affairs Committee
Chair: Alan Gardner, Flint
Vice Chair: John Roberts, Denbigh
Policy Team point of contact: Gareth Parry
The Rural Affairs Committee has a wide-reaching role within the Union. It is responsible for a number of technical areas such as the administration of Schemes, tenancy issues and licensing. Its work will also include wider policy areas of relevance to family farms in Wales, including agricultural economics, tax and trade, agricultural education and training and farm diversification.
This Committee will draw on the expertise of many members of Policy Staff in addition to external individuals with technical knowledge in specific areas as required. Given its broad remit, focussing agendas on the most prevalent of issues based upon input from Committee delegates will be crucial.
Livestock & Hill Farming Committee
Chair: Gwion Rowlands, Meirionnydd
Vice Chair: Dafydd Gwyndaf, Caernarfon
Policy Team point of contact: Gemma Haines
With the predominance of livestock farms in Wales which rear sheep and cattle, and with around 80% of Welsh farmland being classified as Less Favoured and Severely Disadvantaged Areas, this Committee will ensure that the unique characteristics of our livestock production systems are recognised at a national and UK level.
The Committee will therefore focus on livestock markets and transport, farm assurance schemes, market development and relevant areas of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, including collaborative landscape projects.
