Farmers put Senedd candidates under the spotlight at Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe Hustings

Ahead of May’s Senedd election, farmers were given the opportunity to question candidates at a hustings event held at the YFC Cymru Centre at the Royal Welsh Showground on Tuesday, April 28 2026.

The event, organised by the Brecon & Radnorshire branch of NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), alongside Brecknock YFC and Radnor YFC, provided a platform for party representatives to outline their priorities for agriculture and rural communities, as well as responding directly to questions from the audience.

Discussion focussed on a range of pressing issues, including planning policy, rural infrastructure and the wider future of Welsh agriculture.

 Candidates from Gwlad, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK Wales, Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Labour and the Welsh Liberal Democrats were all represented.

 NFU Cymru County Chairman Edward Harris said: “Welsh agriculture is going through a time of great change at present but with this comes great opportunity. It’s imperative that Welsh agriculture, the food we produce, the jobs we support and the landscape we care for are seen as a priority by all those aspiring to sit in the next Senedd and those who will form the next Welsh Government.

 “This event has allowed us to question the candidates and understand their vision for the future of farming in Wales and also to see how well their policies match the particular needs of the new constituency and more than ever, it is vital rural voices are heard. There will be considerable expectation on those who are elected and those who form the next Welsh Government and so it was vitally important for the farming community in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, to be able to quiz the candidates on their policies. Delivering a thriving rural economy is also vital if we are to encourage the next generation of young people to stay in rural communities.”

 NFU Cymru’s manifesto key asks contained in the union’s manifesto include a comprehensive farm to fork food strategy, future policy underpinning food production and commitments to increasing the sourcing of Welsh food in the public sector. The document also features a wider series of priorities in areas such as bovine TB, water quality and a ring-fenced multi-annual budget for Welsh farming.

FUW Senedd and Parliamentary Affairs Officer, Lauren Price added: “We’re very grateful to the candidates for taking their time to support this event. The discussion highlighted just how critical this election will be for the future of Welsh farming. Key issues including the Sustainable Farming Scheme, environmental regulations, land use, and securing the next generation of farmers were central to the debate.

“With significant changes and challenges facing the sector, events like this play an important role in ensuring those concerns are clearly heard ahead of polling day.”