Senedd

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister Samuel Kurtz has accused the First Minister of Wales of a ‘dereliction of duty' in failing to raise the concerns of Welsh farmers regarding the family farm tax in a meeting with the Chancellor

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reflects on the Senedd debate last night which called on the Welsh Government to encourage the UK Government to pause the family farm tax and conduct an impact assessment. Shadow Conservative Minister Samuel Kurtz criticised the First Minister for her meeting with the Chancellor and failing to raise awareness of the scale of concern from Welsh farmers over the changes to Inheritance Tax, describing it as a 'dereliction of duty'

Plaid Cymru's Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs Llyr Gruffydd, who is leading the debate said the IHT policy was ‘unforgiveable and utterly counter-productive' at a time when food security must be strengthened not undermined

Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Llyr Gruffydd, shares his views on the impact of the family farm tax in Wales ahead of a debate in the Senedd on Wednesday, March 5

Prior to the Budget, the Farmers' Union of Wales previously warned a worse case scenario of full ‘Barnettisation' of Wales' agricultural funding could equate to a ‘drop of around 40% in funding for Welsh farming - a cut of around £150m a year'

The survey of more than 400 farmers found that of the 65% of Welsh farmers who had already invested in infrastructure or were planning to, 30% said it had come at a cost of over £100,000

Welsh Government funding schemes in 2025 will focus on preparing for the launch of the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026

Importance of tenant farms to rural communities, and the ‘many challenges' tenants faced were highlighted to mid & south Pembrokeshire Labour MP Henry Tufnell at a rent farm visit

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said he was ‘deeply concerned' any future adjustments to agricultural funding into the Welsh block grant would be ‘subject to the Barnett formula'

Following a vote of confidence in his leadership, he said his position was no longer tenable.