The Farmers’ Union of Wales have launched ‘Tir – Teulu – Treftadaeth – Standing Strong for Family Farms’ the Union’s manifesto for the 2026 Senedd Election. The document outlines the Union’s priorities and policy proposals for the agricultural sector for all parties to consider.
The manifesto was launched at the Usk Show in Monmouthshire on Saturday 13 September. Among the calls is a request for the next Government provide stability and secure sustainability and support for family farms in Wales.
There is also a call to ensure continued collaboration so that the Sustainable Farming Scheme is fair, works and is ‘fit-for-purpose’. The scheme has proven very controversial among farmers and has been the source of wide opposition and protest. The scheme will begin on 1 January 2026 and the Union has called for an increase in the budget available for the ‘universal layer’ of the programme, which is the basic payment that will be offered by the Welsh Government to farmers that meet specific requirements. There is also a call to establish a 5 year framework for the scheme so that farmers can plan and make business decisions confidently.
Among the other proposals the manifesto makes is a call to ensure shorter supply chains, long term investment in smaller slaughter houses and to ensure support for Welsh produce as a means of strengthening Welsh food systems. There are also proposals to support young farmers and new entrants to the industry, building on the recommendations made in the ‘Mandate for Future Farmers’ report which was published by the Union at the Royal Welsh Show earlier this year.
Commenting following the launch of the manifesto, Ian Rickman, FUW President, said:
“As the FUW marks 70 years of standing strong for Welsh family farms, we are calling on the next Welsh Government to build on the recent progress made through constructive engagement on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Family farms are the backbone of Wales’ economy, culture and landscape – supporting jobs, businesses and communities while producing world-class food.
This manifesto sets out our key asks for the next Senedd and Welsh Government, all rooted in our determination to secure a strong future for family farms, food production and rural communities. We look forward to engaging with candidates during the pre-election period, and the FUW is committed to working with the next Welsh Government to secure a thriving and sustainable future for family farms in Wales.”
You can download the full manifesto here: FUW Manifesto 2026 (BILINGUAL)
