Chaired by Llyr Gruffydd MS, Plaid Cymru’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs spokesperson, the event provided a platform for both unions to set out the sustained financial pressures facing the sector.
They pointed to what they described as more than a decade of stagnation in the agricultural budget, warning that funding has failed to keep pace with rising costs and increasing regulatory and environmental expectations.
The unions argued that had overall funding kept pace with inflation over the past 13 years, the agricultural budget would now exceed £500 million - underscoring what they see as a substantial and growing gap between current allocations and the sector’s actual needs.
Key manifesto calls
Speaking at the event, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader outlined the union’s key manifesto calls for a ring-fenced, multi-annual budget to support the sustainable growth of Welsh food and farming. She said:
“Welsh farmers must not be expected to do more for less. The next government must commit to providing a ring-fenced, multi-annual budget that matches our ambitions for the sustainable growth of the sector.
This funding must underpin the financial resilience of our family farms and rural communities, while working in harmony with our environmental and climate obligations. We are calling for a budget in excess of £500 million per annum, with the majority of funding directed towards stability, productivity and efficiency gains on farm.
We also call on the next Welsh Government to challenge the UK Government to ensure that future uplifts to agricultural support funding fairly reflect Wales’ needs, rather than being constrained by the limitations of the Barnett formula.”
Sustainable Farming Scheme support
The calls were echoed during the session by the FUW’s Senedd and Parliamentary Officer, George Lewes, who stressed that the next Welsh Government must also strengthen budgetary support for the forthcoming Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
He argued that the transition to the new framework represents a significant structural shift for farm businesses and must be underpinned by adequate, long-term financial backing to ensure its success. Commenting, he said:
“If we are to deliver on food security, climate and biodiversity goals, the scheme must be backed by a budget that matches those expectations.”
Shared ambitions
The fringe event also provided an opportunity for the unions to outline their wider shared ambitions for the sector ahead of the Senedd election. These included reducing on-farm bureaucracy, delivering a science-led and properly resourced strategy to eradicate bovine TB, and addressing ongoing concerns surrounding NVZ regulations and the unintended consequences they continue to create for family farms.
Concluding FUW President, Ian Rickman said:
“Both unions have emphasised that alongside fair and sustained funding, meaningful regulatory reform and practical, evidence-based policies are essential to safeguarding the viability and long-term sustainability of Welsh agriculture.
Ahead of the Senedd election, we look forward to continuing constructive engagement with all parties to ensure these priorities are delivered for the benefit of our farmers, rural communities, and the wider Welsh economy.”