The NFU Cymru county structure has made its nominations, with all 11 counties nominating current NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader to the role of President.
A number of nominations were received and accepted for the position of Deputy President ahead of the nomination deadline.
Hustings events
A series of hustings events will take place over the coming weeks to give the NFU Cymru membership the opportunity to question each of the respective candidates before the elections at NFU Cymru Council on Tuesday 20 January.
A short introductory article provided by each of the candidates standing for selection can be found below. The virtual hustings will also be available on the NFU Cymru website after the event.
The candidates
Abi Reader - President candidate
I’m standing for NFU Cymru President because I want to continue serving the farming community that has shaped my life. I also believe our best progress is achieved when we work side by side.
Over the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of working with an exceptional President in Aled Jones, alongside the superb professional staff at NFU Cymru. I want to acknowledge Aled’s outstanding leadership. His commitment, calm authority and unwavering focus on members have set a high bar. Aled, diolch yn fawr. You leave big boots to fill, and you leave this union stronger than you found it.
I’m ready to take a leading role in shaping the future of Welsh agriculture. As President, I will continue this great work and ensure that every sector, in every part of Wales, feels heard, valued and represented at the highest levels in Cardiff, Westminster and beyond.
If elected, I will strive to engage with our membership more deeply than ever. My first priority is to the current generation — those carrying the load right now, the people with dirt under their fingernails and who are keeping their businesses, families, and their communities going through real pressure. I want to listen, learn and lighten the load on this industry. We are bearing too much weight, and that needs to change.
Inspiring the next generation of farmers is also vital. They have a huge contribution to make and it is our responsibility to open doors for them, to give them confidence, and to show them that a future in Welsh agriculture is incredibly rewarding and worthwhile.
We face well known challenges in agricultural policy and market pressures with a mix of regulatory change, economic uncertainty and practical realities on the ground that continue to test every part of our industry. With the Senedd elections approaching, now is the moment to shape the political debate with every party and every candidate, especially those who still need to understand what Welsh farming truly offers.
Despite industry challenges, I believe the resilience, determination and innovation of Welsh farmers gives us a bright future. We have an enormously powerful story to tell: from the high-quality, safe food we produce, to our strong communities, our culture and heritage, and our stunning landscapes.
I am ready to lead with energy, integrity and absolute commitment to our members.
I would be honoured to have your support. Diolch yn fawr.
Martin Griffiths - Deputy President candidate
Yn gyntaf holl mae rhaid dweud faint o anrhydedd yw hi i gael fy’n henwebu fel amgeusydd ir swydd o Dirprwy LLywydd o NFU Cymru.
I'm grateful for the chance to take part in this electoral procedure as it gives us all, candidates and members, an opportunity to bring forward ideas to build on Aled and Abi’s legacy. The work both have done with the team in Builth to steer us through challenging times is exceptional.
Having the privilege of serving as Vice Chair of the Dairy Board, leading the Review of the Water Quality Group and being appointed Chair of NFUCymru in Ceredigion has given me exceptional opportunities.
Meeting and building relationships with politicians, civil servants, NGO’s and members of the Press has at times been challenging but definitely rewarding. The challenges we face are numerous, varied and constantly evolving. IHT, SFS, COAPR(NVZ), TB, Avian Influenza rightly grab the headlines but the equally essential work on Bluetongue, BVD, disposal of sheep dip, electronic tagging, dog attacks and rural crime are just some of the subjects that are being covered on your behalf by NFU Cymru.
The Deputy President of NFU Cymru has the honour of representing all sectors of the industry, geographical regions of Wales and different cultural elements. Added to this, rural communities sit proudly on our shoulders and policy decisions that affect our industry have far reaching repercussions for those communities.
Representing the farming industry means representing individuals, be that the young people full of hope and excitement, the older people proud of their achievements or more importantly our members in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s who have committed wholeheartedly to Welsh agriculture. You are at the forefront of having to respond to market conditions and government policy while continually investing, innovating and engaging with new ideas and technologies.
You are also the people that will carry the tax burden of any IHT debt that becomes due, may be asked to
invest in slurry storage and to adapt to the challenges of climate change. You are putting in the long hours to grow your businesses, and responding to the challenges of also bringing up your families in the modern world where time is a very precious commodity.
It’s my opinion that we must find innovative ways of engaging and sharing accurate and relevant information with our membership that does not put further pressure on the finite resource of your time, but does make sure your voice is heard by Politicians and Policy makers.
Os fydde chi yn fodlon fy’n cefnogi fod yn Dirprwy LLywydd or Undeb naf yn siwr fod eich llais yn cael eu clywed o fewn yr Undeb a thu hwnt.
Robert Powell - Deputy President candidate
I am a second-generation farmer taking over the business from my father and uncle and now farm in partnership with my wife Tracy at Blaenbwch, Builth Wells, and we have two sons Alun, who is involved in the business and Aron who is at school.
We run 2,700 ewes plus 800 replacement ewe lambs, with grazing rights on the Epynt ranges, and keep 90 cattle. We have diversified into broiler chickens producing 90,000 chicks per crop, to future proof the farm for the next generation.
Additionally, we have a small contracting business offering fencing, spraying and drilling services. Two full time employees, Gareth and Mark have been with us for 20 years.
I’m a strong believer in forage-based systems and have travelled to New Zealand on an HCC scholarship to study sustainable grassland systems. We have also hosted many on farm events that share best practice and demonstrate technological advances in forage production and continue to be an active member of Wye Valley Grassland Society, which I have chaired in the past.
I currently Chair our local show, Cwmowen, which we have hosted since 2002 and over the years we have hosted charity events and shearing records, raising over £40,000. I am very much involved in the local community having chaired both the local Community Council and Builth Junior rugby section, and during COVID I was actively involved in the campaign to keep Builth livestock market open.
During my time as NFU Brecon and Radnor County Chair, I was proud to be part of a team that organised a meeting at Brecon Market, which was attended by 400+ highlighting the unsuitability of the initial SFS proposals and a successful demonstration on the Royal Welsh Showground presenting the damage IHT changes would inflict on our members and the wider industry. Alistair Carmichael MP addressed the audience.
Blaenbwch has hosted several discussions with politicians. It’s vital to discuss the challenges facing farming communities, with those that govern us. Daisy Cooper MP recently submitted a question in relation to IHT to the House of Commons that originated from a meeting at Blaenbwch
I believe that there is a very strong future for food production in Wales. We have the leading stockmen and grassland farmers in the world. We need to ensure that we produce food of the highest quality, in the most efficient manner, which is both economically and environmentally sustainable.
However, times are changing and in order to remain competitive within global markets, we will need to continue to embrace technology and innovation to secure a thriving agricultural sector for future generations. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing the next generation coming into the industry.
Paul Williams - Deputy President candidate
Mae’n fraint aruthrol cael fy enwebu ar gyfer etholiad Is-Lywydd NFU Cymru. Dwi wedi bod yn Aelod gweithgar o NFU Cymru ers dros 25 mlynedd, ac wedi cael y cyfle I ymuno a sawl ymgyrch a phwyllgor Gwaith yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.
Yn hogyn ifanc, mi gefais fy ysbrydoli gan y genhedlaeth o’m ’mlaen i fwrw’r maen i’r wal ym mhob dim sydd angen ei wneud, ac yn sicr, o fewn y diwydiant amaeth.
Gan bod ein diwydiant yma yng Nghymru wedi’w sylfaennu gan ddygnwch ein cyn deidiau, mi wyddaf yn iawn pwysigrwydd ein ffermydd teuluol, ac yn bwysicach fyth, fel tad i 3 o blant, dyfodol ein cenhedlaeth nesaf.
Mae diwydiant amaeth yng Nghymru wedi gwynebu sawl her yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, sydd ar brydiau wedi achosi rhwygiadau poenus ymysg ein cyd-amaethwyr, ond er gwaetha’r holl helyntion, mae’r ffaith y gallwn wynebu’r heriau hyn gyda’n gilydd fel Undeb cryf ac effeithiol yn fy ysgogi I wynebu’r heriau nesaf gyda hyder.
Yn yr hinsawdd sydd ohoni, mi fydd heriau eto i ddod, gyda newidiadau gwleidyddol sylweddol ymhlith y Senedd yng Nghaerdydd, mi fydd cynrychiolaeth barhaus ein aelodau yn hanfodol os am sicrhau polisïau synhwyrol a thêg i’r dyfodol.
Os caf y cyfle, credaf bod yr awch ar angerdd gennyf i ysgwyddo lleisiau’r aelodaeth ar unrhyw lwyfan a fydd ei angen. “Tra bo dynoliaeth fe fydd amaethu”
It’s an honour to be nominated for the election of NFU Cymru’s Deputy President. I have been an active member of NFU Cymru for over 25 years and had the opportunity to participate in many campaigns and task groups during those years. As a young boy, I was inspired by my previous generation to persevere in everything that needs doing, and no more so within the farming industry.
As our agricultural industry here in Wales is laid soundly on the foundations of our forefather’s endurance, I know full well the importance of our family farms, and as father to 3 children, the future of our next generation.
Welsh farming has faced many challenges in recent years and has at times caused divisions amongst our fellow farmers. Despite all the angst, the fact that we continue to stand together as a strong and effective Union drives me to face the next challenge with confidence.
In the current climate, there will I’m sure be further challenges to come, and with significant political changes within the Senedd in Cardiff, our member’s continued representation will be vital if we are to ensure a fair and sensible policy for the future.
If given the opportunity, I believe I have the drive and passion to shoulder our members’ concerns on any required platform. “Humanity’s perseverance, requires agriculture’s preservation”
Pivotal time
NFU Cymru Director John Mercer said: “The NFU Cymru Officeholder elections arrive at a pivotal time Welsh agriculture. January sees the start of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, a work area that has spanned not just our outgoing President Aled Jones' term in office, but also a sizeable portion of his predecessor John Davies' time at the helm.
"We're also on the cusp of political change, with the seventh Senedd elections on the horizon in May 2026. This will be the first election since reforms to the voting system, an increase in the number of Members of Senedd and changes to the constituency boundaries, with the number of constituencies reducing from 40 to 16 - this all means NFU Cymru will be operating in a very different political landscape after May 2026.
Priorities
"All of this, together with the run of everyday issues in the union's in-tray, means the two farmers elected to the positions of NFU Cymru President and NFU Cymru Deputy President will have an array of priorities as they lead Welsh agriculture over the next two years. Beneath our officeholder team is our wider democratic structure of board chairs, working group chairs and county representatives, who will all have a part to play in driving NFU Cymru forward. For many years the success and strength of NFU Cymru has undoubtedly been the organisation's ability to combine professional staff with dedicated and passionate farmers in key officeholder positions who can represent the Welsh farming industry, not only in Wales, but also in Westminster and Brussels. I know this will continue to be the winning formula that means NFU Cymru will continue to tackle the challenges facing our industry, but also show the ambition to capitalise on the exciting opportunities that will arise and help shape a prosperous future for Welsh farming.
"As a democratic organisation it is now up to our members to decide which of the candidates should lead the union forward from 2026. I encourage all members to engage in the process, to consider each candidate’s mandate and to feed in their views to their county representatives.”