Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and Opportunities

Welsh Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 10 Mar 2025 Parliament page
Wales has a long tradition of farming, and the sector is integral to the Welsh economy. In 2022, agriculture, fishing and forestry accounted for 1.8% of total employment in Wales and over 90% of the land area of Wales is utilised for farming. Our predecessor Committee reported that in 2020, … Read more
8 Recommendations
17 Conclusions
2 Reports
2 Oral sessions
11 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
25 Mar
2026
Correspondence
25 Mar
2026
Correspondence
11 Mar
2026
Correspondence
30 Jan
2026
Report published
7 Jan
2026
Correspondence
12 Nov
2025
Report published
12 Nov
2025
Report published
4 Sep
2025
Correspondence
17 Jul
2025
Correspondence
17 Jul
2025
Correspondence
17 Jul
2025
Correspondence
17 Jul
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
16 Jul 2025
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Oral evidence
Ceri Morgan CBE · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Tessa Jones · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4 Jun 2025
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Oral evidence
Aled Jones · National Farmers Union Cymru Dominic Hampson-Smith · Wales Young Farmers Clubs Gareth Parry · Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW)
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
8 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report - Farming in Wales in 2…
Delay implementing final APR and BPR reforms pending a Wales-specific impact assessment.
We are disappointed that the Government has maintained a complacent approach to measuring the impact of these tax changes despite the scale of public disquiet in Wales. In the absence of a Wales-specific Impact Assessment, the UK Government must delay … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects delaying implementation for a Wales-specific impact assessment, stating it has increased the APR/BPR allowance to £2.5 million after listening to feedback and that a technical note has been published for UK-wide changes.
Wales Office
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12 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report - Farming in Wales in 2…
Maintain ring-fencing of agricultural funding to safeguard the future of Welsh agriculture.
To help safeguard the future of agriculture, we believe there is a strong case for the Welsh Government to maintain the practice of ring-fencing agricultural funding. This would provide continuity, certainty and ensure that all allocated resources are dedicated exclusively … Read more
Government Response
The government explains that agriculture and fisheries funding is no longer ringfenced, having been added to devolved governments' baseline, and that the Welsh Government is now responsible for how to spend this funding, thus not supporting the recommendation for continued ring-fencing.
Wales Office
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16 Conclusion Rejected
2nd Report - Farming in Wales in 2…
Australia and New Zealand FTAs disproportionately disadvantage Welsh agricultural sector
The UK’s Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Australia and New Zealand will disproportionately disadvantage the agricultural sector in Wales. Beef and sheep meat make up a significantly larger share of the agricultural sector in Wales compared to England. As a … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's concern, stating there is no evidence that the FTAs have impacted Welsh beef or lamb production, as quotas have not been fully utilised and imports are primarily displacing other imports. They also highlight existing safeguard mechanisms within the agreements.
Wales Office
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18 Recommendation Rejected
2nd Report - Farming in Wales in 2…
Publish an action plan by May 2028 supporting Welsh farms against FTA impacts
As the Tariff Rate Quotas progress towards a highly liberalised trade arrangement, the UK Government, in consultation with the Welsh Government and Welsh industry, should publish an action plan which sets out how farms in Wales will be supported to … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the need for an action plan, stating there is no evidence of negative impact on Welsh beef or lamb from current trade agreements, highlighting existing safeguards and its commitment to increasing export opportunities.
Wales Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 8 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 8
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 4
Total 8 recs + 17 conclusions
Correspondence 11 letters
25 Mar 2026 Correspondence to and from Department of Business and Trade, relating to the Government response to the Farming in Wales report, dated 3 February and 13 March 2026
Parliament page
25 Mar 2026 Correspondence to and from the Home Office, relating to withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers, dated 2 March and 13 March 2026
Parliament page
11 Mar 2026 Correspondence to and from HM Treasury, relating to Farming in Wales in 2025, dated 3 and 25 February
Parliament page
7 Jan 2026 Correspondence from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to reforms of Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, dated 23 December.
Parliament page
4 Sep 2025 Correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs dated 18 August 2025 relating to Farming in Wales in 2025: Challenges and Opportunities
Parliament page
17 Jul 2025 Correspondence from the Wales Young Farmers Clubs to the Chair relating to the 4 June evidence session
Parliament page
17 Jul 2025 Correspondence from the Farmers’ Union of Wales to the Chair dated 26 June 2025 relating to the 4 June evidence session
Parliament page
17 Jul 2025 Correspondence from the Chair to NFU Cymru dated 9 June 2025 relating to the 4 June evidence session
Parliament page
17 Jul 2025 Correspondence from the Chair to the Wales Young Farmers Clubs dated 9 June 2025 relating to the 4 June evidence session
Parliament page
17 Jul 2025 Correspondence from NFU Cymru to the Chair dated 26 June 2025 relating to the 4 June evidence session
Parliament page
17 Jul 2025 Correspondence from the Chair to the Farmers’ Union of Wales dated 9 June 2025 relating to the 4 June evidence session
Parliament page