As the recently appointed First Minister for Wales, Vaughan Gething MS, announces his new Senedd Cabinet, it has been revealed that Huw Irranca-Davies MS will be taking up the role of Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.

In writing to the recently appointed Secretary, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate Huw Irranca-Davies on being appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. On behalf of the FUW, I wish him every success in the role and we look forward to working with him and his officials in shaping a better future for Welsh agriculture.

"This is certainly an extremely busy time for the farming sector. However, the depth of feeling and frustration demonstrated only weeks ago in Cardiff and across Wales has by no means gone away. The new Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs takes on this portfolio at one of the most critical times for the future of our industry.”

Not only does this include the urgent need to rethink the Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals in genuine co-design with the farming unions, it also includes wider and longstanding issues. The Welsh Government’s approach to bovine TB management and eradication and the pan-Wales Control of Agricultural Pollution ‘NVZ’ regulations are topics causing the industry grave issues.

“The compounded impact of these current policies and proposals are evident by the widespread frustration and the significant increase in referrals rural mental health charities, such as the DPJ Foundation, have witnessed over recent months.

“We therefore look forward to working with Huw Irranca-Davies and his team to ensure that our members’ views receive the recognition they deserve in shaping agricultural policies in Wales that work for Welsh farmers,” added Mr Rickman.