SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales is calling on farmers to attend the Sustainable Farming Conference being held in Mold next month.
Sam Rowlands, a keen supporter of farmers and the agricultural sector said: “I recently expressed my concern about the lack of clarity in the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) which is expected to come into force on January 1 2026.
“The scheme is still being developed and not yet finalised. Time is ticking and that does not give farmers in North Wales much time to prepare for any change and many are worried and I share their concerns.
“However, it is important that farmers take the opportunity to find out more about sustainable farming and I would urge them to attend the conference.”
NFU Cymru’s upcoming fifth Sustainable Farming Conference is set to showcase farmers’ work feeding the nation, enhancing the farmed environment and spearheading their local communities.
To be held on Wednesday September 3 from 9.30am at Ffrith farm, Mold, by kind permission of the Swan family, the event will hear insights from industry experts and include a farm walk of the 250-acre mixed farm.
Attendees will also have a tour of the family-run farm shop, established in 2003 to sell the high-quality beef, pork and free-range eggs produced on-farm.
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “At this time of unprecedented change for farming in Wales with the Sustainable Farming Scheme launching in 2026, this event is all about showcasing the essential contribution of farming to the economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of Wales.
“Attendees can expect to hear about the latest advancements in sustainable farming and rural research, with a packed programme of leading experts and practitioners in this field.
“The event will also provide the opportunity to see sustainable farming in action from farm to fork at this award-winning business. We are very grateful to the Swan family for hosting this year’s conference.”
The Sustainable Farming Conference ‘Growing Forward – Advances in Sustainable Farming’ will focus on the latest in agricultural and rural research with Professor Iain Donnison, Head of the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS); Dr Alastair Leake, Director of Policy at The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust; and Professor Janet Dwyer, Professor of Rural Policy, Countryside and Community Research Institute at the University of Gloucestershire.
The event will also offer supply chain perspectives on sustainable farming with Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture at M&S Food; Dr Julie Finch, Agriculture Governance & Compliance Manager at Kepak Group; and Ben Williams, Sustainability Manager at Leprino.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Economy, Energy and Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS will also set out his party’s policies for sustainable farming.
The conference is free for NFU Cymru members and stakeholders. Members should register for the event through the NFU Cymru website or by calling the NFU Cymru office on 01982 554200.
For more information about the event, or to see a farm profile of the host farm, please visit the NFU Cymru website.
