Interview: Huw Irranca-Davies, rural affairs minister for Wales

As cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, the range of subjects landing in Huw Irranca-Davies’s mailbox is a varied one.

But it is certain that bovine TB is never far from the top of it.

The incidence of the disease has remained pretty much unchanged since 2016, with the farm unions strongly calling for a wildlife cull.

But how far is the minister prepared to go to see that change in the pursuit of TB-free status for Wales?

See also: Welsh Sustainable Farming Scheme: All you need to know

Bovine TB strategy

One thing that Mr Irranca-Davies is very clear about is that culling badgers is not part of the government’s intended approach.

“We know that the vector that drives TB transmission is tenfold within cattle compared to what it is within a wildlife reservoir,” he says.

Pointing to some policy changes since his tenure started, he highlights the establishment of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme Board and the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group.

Both of these provide guidance and solutions in the fight to eradicate bovine TB by 2041.

While a “no-mass cull” policy for wildlife remains in place, advice from those groups will be taken on board.

The more positive steps towards disease eradication, he argues, are the short-term fixes that have already been implemented, such as changes to the policy around the slaughter of cattle on-farm.

These changes allow for a delay in the slaughtering of a TB test positive cow that is within 60 days of calving, or that has calved within seven days.

It allows the animal to be transported off the holding to be slaughtered.

“It’s a heck of a mountain to climb. But I’m convinced that we can do it,” says the rural affairs minister.

Asked what action would be taken if those advisory groups recommend badger culling, Mr Irranca-Davies says he would follow evidence-based solutions.

He would, at the same time, take the health and welfare of the wildlife population into account.

Should the advice from his advisory groups suggest there is a disease issue in wildlife, he would want to see solutions.

An “unscientific, unmonitored, scattergun mass-cull” will never been allowed in Wales, he adds.

“We need to continue pressing down on the disease, recognising that the primary transmission of this is cattle to cattle, but if there’s also an issue to address within wildlife and the advisory boards have the solutions of how to address it – then obviously I’d be interested in that.

“That might be helpful in dealing with the animal welfare aspect for wildlife, as well as helping us towards that eradication by 2041.”

Industry however remains sceptical, warning of mounting anger and frustration.

Farm incomes

Latest farm income statistics paint a clear picture of the dire straits the industry is in, highlighting the need for a solid funding mechanism.

Recent Farm Business Survey for Wales data point to a 39% income fall in 2023-24 across all sectors, with cereal and dairy farmers the hardest hit.  

Asked if those figures are of much concern, the rural affairs minister says he fully appreciates the precarious financial situation some are in.

The solution to addressing that is multifaceted, he adds, and it is not just a case of spending more taxpayers’ money.

“There is absolutely a role for government to be in the space where we support a type of farming that delivers great food, and sells it domestically, and delivers on the exports that we’re doing,” says Mr Irranca-Davies.

That money, however, must also deliver for wider objectives such as flood alleviation, biodiversity and wildlife, and bringing farmers together to collaborate.

And the way to do all that, he says, is through the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) – so long as everyone encourages farmers to take up more than just the baseline actions, to drive income flows.

By incorporating an element of social value, the minister hopes to hit the sweet spot with industry, financially recognising the contributions living, breathing, small- and medium-scale family farms make to society.

Mr Irranca-Davies adds that other investment streams should be sought, including through rural development initiatives, “where people work with communities, farmers and landowners to lever more money into rural areas and sustain farming livelihoods”.

But that should always be an addition to, not instead of taxpayer support.

The public, he says, “recognise farmers for good food production, but also recognise and reward them for what they do for flood alleviation, biodiversity, and habitat creation”.

Future funding

For farm incomes to see stability, but to ensure the schemes being developed are funded properly, it is crucial that the right amount of money is made available.

Despite UK chancellor Rachel Reeves “Barnettising” Wales’s budget and not ring-fencing it for agriculture, the rural affairs minister insists the Welsh government has “put its money where its mouth is” by retaining the Basic Payment Scheme for the so-called transition period.

“We’ve given clarity and certainty in a way that hasn’t been delivered elsewhere within the UK.”

Going forward, he says we need to have a “quantum of funding that works” and his strongest argument for that, within the cabinet and the Welsh Treasury, is based on all those things industry is expected to deliver under the SFS.

“I think that’s a compelling and a winning argument, but I can’t say in advance of discussions that are to do with future years where we land on that.”

Similarly, Mr Irranca-Davies says he is unable to commit to multi-annual settlements as part of the SFS, though it is something he supports in principle.

Agricultural pollution

Farmers across Wales have been dismayed by the agricultural pollution regulations, with many calling for the rules to be scrapped.

While water quality is noticeably better than in some other parts of the UK, the rural affairs minister is still concerned about the state of rivers and is keen to find solutions on how to clean up Wales’s waterways.

“Our most sensitive rivers are being damaged by agricultural diffuse pollution,” he says. “There must be an element of frankness. I think most farmers share my objective of saying we need to do something about this.”

Questioning if the current approach is correct, he has appointed Dr Susanna Bolton who is tasked with reviewing the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021, mandated every four years.

With results expected at the end of March, Mr Irranca-Davies says he is looking forward to seeing her recommendations, adding it is not just farming that will be expected to act.

“Agriculture is not the only pollutant here. There is a wider piece that we need to do in Wales, and that needs to deal with things like building controls regulation, and with water company investment.”

Hinting at a similar roundtable approach that was seen for the SFS, he wants to move forward in a collaborative way. 

“We’ve got to deal with this together,” he says. “Let’s not look at it simply from a burden of regulation perspective, let’s look at the outcome we’re trying to achieve.”

Inheritance tax

With UK agriculture up in arms about proposed inheritance tax changes, Wales’s rural affairs minister says he has spoken frequently to his English counterpart, Defra secretary Steve Reed.

Agriculture may be devolved, but tax policy is not and Mr Irranca-Davies says he wants to see a sustainable sector in Wales and will do what he can to see it get there.

“It’s been accepted by Steve Reed that there is a necessity for the Treasury and for Defra to hear those voices, not just from England, but also from Welsh stakeholder groups, to understand the concerns.”

The added stress those Westminster plans are having on the agricultural industry is “a very human and very real thing,” he says.

To those feeling the pressure, Mr Irranca-Davies’s advice is to seek professional help and work through individual circumstances.

If proposed changes do apply, he says, farmers should employ “legitimate ways” to reorganise their finances to minimise the impact or even “legally, correctly and ethically” avoid the issue affecting them.

In addition, he encourages the industry to seek help from mental health charities and advisory bodies.

“Farming by its very nature can often be quite an isolated occupation, so do reach out,” he says.

“Farming Connect in Wales can give you advice and support and direct you to the right people.”

Concluding, Mr Irranca-Davies says he is focused on “creating a future which is a genuinely vibrant, exciting future for our Welsh farmers”.

“I want young daughters and sons to feel excited about coming into that,” he says. “We just need to work at it together.”