Welsh farmers have expressed their disappointment at the Welsh government's decision to split the portfolio for Natural Resources Minister, following the sacking of former minister Alun Davies earlier this week.

Davies was sacked by First Minister Carwyn Jones on Tuesday, after it emerged that he had repeatedly attempted to pressure civil servants working with him to pass over private information on political opponents' CAP subsidies. His colleagues refused and referred Davies to the First Minister last week.

Responding to the Welsh government decision to split the former minister's portfolio between two ministers and a junior minister, Farmers Union of Wales president Emyr Jones said, "Obviously, we are disappointed that the portfolio has been split again, although we welcome the fact that farming gets a dedicated deputy minister for agriculture. We have worked with Rebecca Evans in her role on the Sustainability Committee and she represents a predominantly rural area.

"As profitable farming and a sustainable environment are interlinked we also look forward to working with culture and sport minister John Griffiths who has received the environment policy brief."

Responsibility for agriculture, fisheries and food has gone to business minister Edwina Hart. Hart will be assisted by Rebecca Evans, who is now deputy minister for farming.

Jones said FUW will be seeking early talks with the two ministers working on agriculture. "We will now seek to meet the new deputy minister as soon as possible to ensure that work on the range of outstanding CAP issues does not lose momentum," he added.