Farming

#FarmingMatters takes centre stage

Published

8 years ago

January 2, 2018

(L-R) FUW President Glyn Roberts, Y Tir Editor Nia Davies-Jones, FUW Managing Director Alan Davies and FUW Press Officer Anne Birkett

THE FARMERS’ Union of Wales’ campaign #FarmingMatters, which set out to demonstrate the key role that farming plays in the wider rural economy and showcase the wider social and cultural importance of farming in Wales with the wider aim of convincing the Welsh Government that it is essential to protect Welsh farming from the potential negative impact of Brexit, has been recognised at the UK Public Affairs Awards as the best campaign in Wales.

For the past 18 months the FUW has been busy highlighting why farming matters and when the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, immediately realised the need to raise awareness of the concerns for farming in Wales, mainly due to Welsh farmers’ strong trading relationship with the EU.

FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “I would first of all like to congratulate the staff at the FUW for their fantastic effort, which has resulted in the campaign being recognised as the best in Wales. For us at the FUW it became critical to highlight the potential impact any failed trade negotiations could have on the wider economy and multiple small businesses in the supply chain. The FUW further needed to create awareness, promote understanding and develop knowledge of the farming sector in Wales.

“It was determined that we needed to create an easy to remember message that raised the profile of farming in Wales and the risks to its future and we wanted this to be a phrase that tripped off the tongue.

“As the Union deals with Farming Matters on a daily basis, we saw an opportunity to use the double meaning of these words to highlight our key message. We do work on farming matters, but the truth is: Farming Matters, to so many, in so many other ways. This was seen as a neat play on words leading us to: #FarmingMatters.”

With this in mind the FUW set out to explain why and how farming matters to Members of the National Assembly of Wales and the wider public, with the view of changing attitudes and policies, and creating the understanding that family farms are the cornerstone of our rural economy.

The FUW ensured that the campaign was based on evidence in terms of importance, highlighting that farming is the backbone of the Welsh food and drinks sector, which employs 222,400 people, 17% of the Welsh workforce. The campaign further demonstrated that Welsh family farms do so much more than just produce food – they are the cornerstone of our rural economies and Welsh food production sustains tens of thousands of other businesses from upstream businesses such as feed merchants, agricultural contractors and engineers, to downstream businesses such as hauliers, processors and retailers.

In addition the campaign stressed that for every £100 generated on farm, £60 is spent within 7 miles of the farm, as well as making it clear that by managing of over 80% of Wales’ landmass, farmers play an invaluable part in managing and preserving a landscape which provides clean drinking water for millions, is diverse in habitat and species and includes more than 1,000 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

The FUW, through the #FarmingMatters campaign, communicated that other benefits of Welsh farming include major contributions to negating the causes and symptoms of climate change, whether through the storage of carbon in farm woodland, hedgerows and peat bogs, or the generation of green electricity through on-farm wind and water turbines.

By providing employment and economic growth in rural areas, the farming sector also mitigates rural depopulation, protects rural culture and heritage and keeps the Welsh language alive.

“We needed a multi-channel route to deliver our message and therefore arranged farm visits for Assembly Members across Wales, attended all of the Party Conferences held in Wales including speaking opportunities and conference debates at two, incorporated regular meetings with Ministers, Assembly Committees and Assembly Members, issued targeted news releases and ran a supporting social media campaign. All of this was backed up by regular repetitive and consistent messaging on #FarmingMatters,” said Alan Davies.

The #FarmingMatters campaign resulted in most Assembly Members, including First Minister Carwyn Jones, giving their clear commitment and backing to the Welsh farming industry, adopting our key messages around trade post Brexit, as demonstrated in the ‘Securing Wales’ Future – Transition from the European Union to a new relationship with Europe’ white paper in June 2017, recognising the importance of maintaining farming support after the UK leaves the European Union and backing the FUW’s call for a UK wide agricultural framework that respects devolution.

“There were also some unexpected benefits. Due to the success of the #FarmingMatters campaign we were able to convince a group of Labour politicians, primarily from urban constituencies, to come together at the Welsh Labour party conference in March 2017, to demonstrate support for rural Wales. The group is called “‘Llafur Cefn Gwlad” again a play on words as it means the “labour of rural Wales”. We will continue this campaign over the coming year and hope it will reach many more people, creating even better understanding amongst politicians and the public. ” added Alan Davies.

Farming

Badger Trust urges next Welsh Government to keep non-lethal TB policy

Published

4 days ago

April 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Charity says Wales should continue science-led approach as bovine TB cases fall

BADGER Trust has called on the next Welsh Government to maintain a science-led and non-lethal approach to tackling bovine tuberculosis.

The charity says Wales should continue to focus on cattle testing, farm biosecurity and support for farmers, rather than wildlife intervention.

According to Badger Trust, bovine TB cases in Wales had fallen by 13.6% by the end of 2025, without any wildlife culling. It said this compared with a 5% fall in England over the same period.

The charity said 5.3% of cattle herds in Wales were not officially TB-free at the end of 2025, down 0.4 percentage points on the previous year. It said 567 new herd incidents were recorded during the year, alongside a 27% reduction in early cattle slaughter.

Badger Trust said bovine TB remains a serious threat to cattle health, but argued that the best response is a cattle-focused policy, including more frequent and enhanced testing, improved farm hygiene, and non-slaughter options for cattle testing positive.

The charity said: “The premature culling of cattle due to a failed bovine TB test is outdated and unnecessary. Instead, strict segregation is an effective alternative.

“The main focus must be on eliminating the reservoir of bovine TB in the national herd in preparation for cattle vaccination.”

Badger Trust also argued that bovine TB can remain dormant in cattle and in the environment for long periods before being detected, which can lead to mistaken assumptions that infection has entered a closed herd from wildlife.

It said the disease can also be spread through contaminated vehicles, workwear, manure and slurry if proper biosecurity measures are not followed.

The charity added: “Focusing on badgers distracts from the real issue, as DNA testing shows that 94-95% of bovine TB infections are transmitted directly between cattle.

“The only effective way to combat bovine TB is to address it at its source: within the cattle population.”

Badger Trust is urging the next Welsh Government to “hold its nerve” and continue with a science-led, evidence-based, non-lethal policy.

Nigel Palmer, Chief Executive of Badger Trust, said the charity wanted Wales to continue “leading by example” in its approach to tackling the disease.

Badger Trust says it welcomes the end of intensive badger culling licences in England in 2026, but remains opposed to presenting badger vaccination as the main solution to bovine TB. It argues that improved cattle testing and stronger farm biosecurity offer a more effective and humane way forward.

The charity also warned that badgers face a separate threat from changes linked to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which it says could weaken protections for badger setts in development areas.

Badger Trust is the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales and works through a network of local badger groups. Its Badgers Belong Here campaign promotes badger protection and public education.

Farming

FUW warns food security must be treated as national security

Published

5 days ago

April 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Union says rising fuel and fertiliser costs are putting pressure on farmers and food supply chains

THE FARMERS’ Union of Wales has warned that food security must be treated as a UK-wide priority as global instability continues to drive up costs for farmers.

FUW President Ian Rickman and Deputy President Dai Miles met Defra Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle MP in Westminster to discuss the impact of international events on farming, production costs and the resilience of food supplies.

They were also joined by Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin MP.

The union said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region had added significant pressure to key agricultural inputs and energy costs.

According to the FUW, fertiliser prices, particularly urea and ammonium nitrate, have risen by between 20% and 30% since the escalation of the conflict.

The union is calling for greater transparency around fertiliser stocks and distribution across the UK.

Fuel costs have also risen sharply, with the FUW saying red diesel has effectively doubled in price in some cases. Wider agricultural fuel and energy costs are continuing to rise across the sector, placing further pressure on farm businesses already operating on tight margins.

The union warned that these cost increases are feeding through the entire food supply chain, affecting production, transport, processing and manufacturing, and are likely to contribute further to food price inflation.

The FUW repeated its call for a UK-wide legislative food security metric, which it says should be taken forward by the next Welsh Government in collaboration with the UK Government.

It said food security is a cross-UK issue, affecting all four nations because of the closely integrated nature of agri-food supply chains.

The union also pointed to recent government evidence, including Defra’s 2024 Food Security Report and its 2025 national security assessment on biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse.

It said these highlighted long-term risks to food production, including climate change, nature decline, animal and plant disease, supply chain disruption and exposure to volatile global markets.

FUW President Ian Rickman said: “We welcomed the opportunity to meet Minister Eagle and Minister McMorrin, and highlight the continued impact of recent global instability on Welsh farmers.

“Food security is national security, and recent global instability has made that clearer than ever.

“Farmers are facing surging cost pressures, particularly from fertilisers and sharply rising fuel costs such as red diesel, which in some cases have doubled.

“These are forces far beyond their control, yet they directly threaten the resilience of our food system.

“We urgently need a coordinated UK-wide approach that recognises the strategic importance of domestic food production and reduces our exposure to volatile international markets.

“With that must come regular and meaningful engagement between Defra and agricultural stakeholders across the UK, including the FUW, particularly on policy areas that remain reserved to the UK Government.”

Farming

Search launched for Wales Woman Farmer of the Year

Published

5 days ago

April 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NOMINATIONS are now open for the 28th Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Award, celebrating the vital contribution made by women across Welsh agriculture.

NFU Cymru, together with sponsor NFU Mutual, has launched the search for the 2026 winner of the prestigious award, which recognises the role women play in farming businesses, rural communities and the wider agricultural industry.

Now in its 28th year, the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Wales Woman Farmer of the Year competition has highlighted women from a wide range of farming sectors and backgrounds across Wales.

The winner of the 2026 award will receive £500 and a Welsh Royal Crystal bowl.

The closing date for nominations is Friday, May 29. The award will be presented on Thursday, July 23, on the NFU Cymru stand at the Royal Welsh Show.

NFU Cymru Deputy President Paul Williams, who will be one of this year’s judges, said: “The Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Award is there to champion the contribution that women make to farming businesses and wider rural life.

“Over the many years we’ve been holding this prestigious award, we’ve had a variety of winners, all representing different sectors and parts of the farming industry, and we look forward to receiving applications for the 2026 title and celebrating this great award.”

Heather Holgate, NFU Cymru Group Secretary and NFU Mutual Agent, who will judge the competition alongside Paul Williams, said: “For generations, women have played a crucial role in Welsh agriculture, from running farm businesses to leading diversification enterprises to increase farm income, and NFU Mutual is proud to support this award.

“We hope the award inspires other women in Wales to take centre stage and influence farming in the future.”

Anyone interested in entering, or nominating someone for the Wales Woman Farmer of the Year 2026 title, can visit the NFU Cymru website to complete an application form.

Forms are also available from the NFU Cymru office by calling 01982 554200.