Several Welsh farm groups have welcomed the appointment of a new minister for rural affairs following the recent Senedd election.
Following Plaid Cymru’s election victory, Wales’ new First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth confirmed this week that Llyr Gruffydd has been appointed the role of Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability within the current Welsh government.
Gruffydd will replace the outgoing Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, who held the position since March 2024.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) and NFU Cymru offered their congratulations to Gruffydd, with both unions previously working closely with him when he was Plaid Cymru’s shadow rural affairs spokesperson prior to his new ministerial role.
FUW
The president of the FUW, Ian Rickman noted that he is looking forward to working with the new minister on “key priorities including future farm support, bovine TB, on-farm regulations, and securing a thriving, sustainable future for family farms and food production in Wales.”
Dai Miles, who is the deputy president of the FUW, said the union was pleased by the positive engagement that it received from election candidates throughout the campaign, with the hope that this will continue over the course of the new Senedd term.
The FUW also paid tribute to the former Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Irranca-Davies, thanking him for his engagement with the sector and recognising the importance of maintaining strong dialogue between the Welsh Government and the agricultural industry.
NFU Cymru
NFU Cymru president Abi Reader stated that Gruffydd “brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the sector to this role at a critical time for the industry.”
Reader said: “Plaid Cymru’s election manifesto contains several commitments that align very closely with a number of the key policy asks in NFU Cymru’s own Senedd elections manifesto.
“We congratulate Llyr Gruffydd on his appointment and we look forward to continuing our positive working relationship in his new capacity as Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, working together to deliver on those shared areas of ambition for the benefit of Welsh farmers and rural Wales,” she added.
NSA
The Cymru region of the National Sheep Association (NSA) also commented on the new Welsh government as the farming group called on ministers to “provide Welsh sheep farmers with the confidence, policy clarity and practical support needed to plan ahead, invest and continue delivering for rural Wales.”
NSA claimed that the next Senedd term will be “critical” for the Welsh sheep sector due to the expectation of more “pressure, animal health challenges and changing support arrangements.”
NSA’s development officer for the Cymru region, Helen Roberts said: “Producers need a realistic and consistent policy framework that recognises the sector’s importance to food production, landscape management and the rural economy.”
SFS
The chief executive of the NSA Phil Stocker outlined the need for the government to closely examine the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) before implementing any policy changes in regards to the scheme.
Stocker said: “NSA does not expect, or want, any sudden knee-jerk reactions from the incoming Government in Wales with regard to the new SFS at such an important time, with the first application window about to close.
“NSA would like to see the new Government find its feet, study the responses to the opening of the SFS, and consider future amendments that take account of the importance of food security and self-sufficiency alongside animal health and welfare, environmental and social obligations, while keeping a close eye on reducing complexity and bureaucracy,” he added.
The Cymru region of the NSA stated that its priorities for the next Senedd term include support for flock health, proportionate regulation and future policy arrangements that are workable for upland, lowland and family-run sheep enterprises across Wales.