New FUW president shares future farming funding fears for Wales

Clarity is urgently needed on future funding for farming in Wales, says the newly elected president of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW).

Ian Rickman, a second-generation Carmarthenshire sheep and beef farmer, said the industry was in the dark about how farming would be supported after farmers had received their final full Basic Payment Scheme payments in 2024.

See also: Welsh farmers face ‘funding cliff-edge’ if Glastir not extended

Mr Rickman said: “At the moment we more or less know what we can expect until 2024 in terms of support for agriculture, but after that you fall off a cliff if you try to do any sort of cashflow or business planning.

“We realistically don’t know the details of how farm support is going to look going forward.”

Mr Rickman, who was elected FUW president on Friday (30 June), said addressing bovine TB was another priority.

The disease had been an issue for the previous generation and it would remain one for the next if nothing changed, he warned.

“We will work with the new chief vet and the Welsh government to continue trying to find workable solutions to the issue. 

“There should, however, be no misunderstanding – members are at the end of their tether and the ongoing TB situation is a huge concern to farmers here in Wales, which ultimately also puts our food security at risk.’’

Mr Rickman has farmed at Gurnos, Llangadog, since the late 1980s. He has a share farming agreement with his business partner, Sean Jeffreys, keeping sheep and rearing Wagyu calves.

Joining Mr Rickman in the new-look top team are Pembrokeshire dairy farmer Dai Miles as deputy president; North Wales beef and sheep farmer Alun Owen as North Wales vice-president; Glamorgan beef and sheep farmer Brian Bowen as South Wales vice-president; and Ceredigion sheep farmer Anwen Hughes as mid-Wales vice-president.