NFU Cymru is inviting its membership from across Wales to join its virtual hustings event on Monday, April 27, at 7.30pm ahead of the Senedd Elections on Thursday, May 7.

The event will give members the opportunity to hear from the candidates about their respective parties’ policies for agriculture and rural Wales, as well as allowing members to ask questions on the issues that matter to them. The candidates currently confirmed to attend the event are:

Welsh Conservatives – Sam Kurtz

Reform UK Wales – James Evans

Plaid Cymru – Llyr Gruffydd

Welsh Labour – TBC

Welsh Liberal Democrats – Leena Farhat

Gwlad – Gwyn Wigley Evans

Wales Green Party - TBC

NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “Welsh agriculture is going through a time of great uncertainty 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 will allow 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 our key asks within our manifesto.”

“We would encourage NFU Cymru members to take up this opportunity to pose questions to those that seek to represent them in the next Senedd and form the next Welsh Government.”

NFU Cymru re-launched its manifesto ahead of the Senedd Elections to emphasise the importance of agriculture within Wales. 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.

Ahead of the election, the union is releasing a series of case study videos highlighting the challenges Welsh farmers are facing and a chance to hear from the heart the issues that matter most to farmers. The full NFU Cymru manifesto can be read here.

Members can register for the event via the NFU Cymru website and receive a joining link via email, or please call 01982 554200 or email [email protected] to register.