NFU Cymru welcomes First Minister's desire to build strong relationship with Welsh agriculture

‘Welsh farmers will be encouraged to hear the First Minister talk so positively about his government's relationship with Welsh agriculture'.

Those were the words of NFU Cymru President Abi Reader after she chaired a session with the First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth on the opening day of the Royal Welsh Show.

A capacity crowd came to the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual marquee on the Royal Welsh Showground to hear the First Minister speak on Monday, July 20.

Towards the end of his address to NFU Cymru members and guests, the First Minister said: "If there's anything that I want to see happening in this relationship between government and the agriculture sector and rural Wales, it is about enhancing and deepening the communication, the conversation, that we always have.

“We understand, we believe in rural Wales, we live in rural Wales, so many of us. But it's only in that ongoing conversation, and in honesty between us, transparency in the way we deal with each other, that we can really move forward to make sure that you feel you have a government on your side."

Speaking after the seminar, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: "I was pleased that the First Minister accepted our invitation to join us on the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual stand this morning for our seminar. Since the Senedd Elections in May, we have had a great deal of positive engagement with the First Minister, the Cabinet Minister and their fellow MSs.

“By fulfilling this commitment amid, what I'm sure, is an extremely busy Royal Welsh Show itinerary, it is another strong indicator from the First Minister of his government's recognition of the importance of our sector and the ambitions we share to take it forward.

"I think Welsh farmers will be very encouraged to hear the First Minister talk so positively about his government's relationship with Welsh agriculture. NFU Cymru will continue to work constructively with the First Minister, Cabinet Minister and the Welsh Government to address the challenges facing our industry and seize the opportunities that lay ahead."

The event also discussed a range of other topics including funding, bovine TB, challenges in the food supply chain and mental health within agriculture and those living in rural communities.

The seminar with the First Minister was concluded by a session with John Davies, the independent chair of the review of the bureaucratic burden on family farms.