Latest news with #BasicPaymentScheme
Business News Wales
3 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Wildlife Trusts Wales Warns Sustainable Farming Scheme 'Falls Short for Nature'
Wildlife Trusts Wales has said that the Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) 'fails to adequately address the urgent climate and nature crisis'. It says it welcomes the move towards a whole-farm approach with the goal of making Welsh farming more sustainable. However, the details released only cover the Universal Tier, which appears to maintain the status quo, it said. It falls short of addressing the pressing nature and climate challenges, the organisation said. Wildlife Trusts Wales said that Welsh farming was currently unsustainable both economically and environmentally. Over the past decade, the number of farms has decreased, resulting in 9,000 job losses, it said, adding that farming continues to be the primary driver of biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions in Wales. The SFS should be a vehicle for change, it said, enabling sustainable food production and transitioning to sustainable land management. Financial support and recognition through the Social Value Payments for carbon storage, air quality, and recreation access are a step in the right direction, it added. The organisation welcomed the tapering of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which it said had offered poor value for money. These tapered funds will now go to the proposed Options and Collaborative tiers and they have the potential to support nature friendly farming, but details of these tiers are still lacking, it added. The organisation said: 'We commend the Welsh Government for its transparency and commitment to engaging all stakeholders throughout the SFS review process, including the Roundtable and other forums over the past year.' Rachel Sharp, Director of Wildlife Trusts Wales, said: 'While we welcome elements of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, we remain deeply concerned that the final version will not adequately address the climate and nature crises. Welsh farming is in crisis—fewer farms, fewer jobs, and increasing environmental damage. We need to see an increased budget for the SFS, specifically for the Options and Collaborative tiers, to help farmers transition to nature-friendly farming practices. Only farmers can restore nature and reduce the devastating impacts of climate change, including flooding and droughts.' Wildlife Trusts Wales is calling on the Welsh Government to ensure that the Options and Collaborative tiers of the SFS create a step forward for sustainable farming, and a meaningful shift toward nature recovery and climate resilience. A stronger, more comprehensive scheme will protect Wales' nature and ensure a viable future for farmers, it said.
ITV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
What does the new subsidy mean for Welsh farmers?
The Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MS, who has responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, has outlined the new Sustainable Farming Scheme today. What is the Scheme? The Sustainable Farming Scheme is said to be The Welsh Government's way to support farmers, land management and sustainable food production from 2026 onwards. It will pay farmers for actions resulting in environmental, animal welfare and social outcomes above the legal requirements. To be eligible, farmers will be required to manage at least 10% of their farm as habitat. Farmers will be required to carry out 'universal actions' for which they would receive the 'universal baseline payment'. 'Optional' and 'collaborative' actions can be done for additional payments. Farmers can chose to join the scheme but must undertake all 'universal actions' and have sole control of the land to receive the money. There are 12 'universal actions', which include soil health, habitat maintenance and tree and hedgerow planting opportunities. Why is it controversial? Last year thousands of farmers protested outside the Senedd as a result of the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme. The backlash is based on the fact farmers will have to meet strict environmental targets in return for government funding. There are fears it won't work for all farmers due to complications around land ownership and rights to land. The National Farmers Union in Wales says that the scheme must work for every farm in Wales. Aled Jones, President of NFU Cymru, says that agriculture is the bedrock for Wales' food and drinks sector. "NFU Cymru has long been clear that the Sustainable Farming Scheme must provide at least the same level of stability to farm businesses, rural communities and the supply chain as the Basic Payment Scheme does currently. "In March 2024, NFU Cymru placed 5,500 pairs of wellies on the steps of the Senedd, a deeply moving and poignant depiction of the potential job losses on farm forecast by an impact assessment of a previous version of the Sustainable Farming Scheme. "It is imperative that the revised scheme and budget attached to the SFS, which is expected to be published this week, avoids such a shocking impact on one of Wales' iconic sectors. The SFS must work for all farming sectors and areas of Wales and help ensure that Welsh farming can continue to underpin the £9.3 billion food and farming supply chain." When will the Scheme come into play? From 2026 you will have the choice to enter the Sustainable Farming Scheme or remain with the Basic Payment Scheme which will be phased out by 2029. The current scheme that farmers receive funding from will be worth just 60% of its current value. That means that if farmers want to receive more money from the Welsh Government, they will have to sign up to the Sustainable Farming Scheme next year. What the Welsh Government hope it will achieve? " Our ambition is to see a thriving and confident agriculture sector in Wales, that is built around innovation and growth." "Supports farmers in Wales to produce world class, high-quality, food whilst caring for the environment, tackling and adapting to climate change and building resilience for those who will work and care for this precious land in the years to come."
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
New Sustainable Farming Scheme 'a generational milestone'
The new Sustainable Farming Scheme represents a 'generational milestone' for farmers, a union has said. The scheme will see new requirements for farmers which look to improve biodiversity across the country and will see the rapid phasing out of the current Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). According to the Welsh Government, farmers in Sustainable Farming Scheme will need to have 'at least 10 per cent of their land actively managed as habitat, to benefit biodiversity and support nature recovery alongside food production'. The current basic payment scheme will be phased out being reduced to 60 per cent in 2026 and reduced by 20 per cent per year thereafter. NFU Cymru criticised this aspect as initially it was though that it would initially only drop to 80 per cent. It labelled the change a 'cliff edge' approach which has affected many farmers' forward planning. What the Sustainable Farming Scheme says: An annual Universal Payment will go to farmers joining the Scheme who follow the Scheme Requirements including a set of Universal Actions. The Scheme has been made less complex with fewer administrative requirements. The number of Universal Actions has been cut and built on the processes and systems of Rural Payments Wales (RPW). The combination of the Universal, Optional and Collaborative layers is intended to give stability through the Universal layer, and additional support to those who want to do more through Optional and Collaborative Actions. All farmers entering the Scheme will need to complete an opportunity plan for woodland and hedgerow creation in the first year of entry into the Scheme. They must demonstrate progress towards their plan by the end of the 2028 scheme year. Support will be provided for tree and hedgerow planting in the Optional Layer, including for agroforestry, and there will be a higher payment rate for tree planting during the first three years of the scheme. Farmers are not expected to plant trees on their most productive land – they will decide where to plant, with advice and guidance on putting the right trees in the right places. Farmers in the Scheme will need to have at least 10% of their land actively managed as habitat, to benefit biodiversity and support nature recovery alongside food production. A range of temporary habitat options are available to choose from if farmers need to do more to meet the 10% requirement. By the time of the Royal Welsh Show a simple ready reckoner will be available on the Welsh Government website. Union response FUW President Ian Rickman said: "During the past year alone, we have attended in excess of 60 meetings with the Welsh Government totalling over 300 hours of negotiations. I can assure FUW members and the wider agricultural community that we have left no stone unturned over the past seven years in our ambition to secure a viable post-Brexit farm support framework. "The Scheme published today represents this prolonged period of negotiation, marking a generational milestone for the future of Welsh agriculture.' He added: "We accept that the Scheme is not perfect. The 10% habitat Scheme Rule will be a concern for many as will the management requirements that will apply on those areas despite these being less prescriptive than previous agri-environment schemes. "We also appreciate there will be concerns raised around the Scheme-level ambition to plant 17,000 hectares of trees by 2030, the potential year-to-year fluidity of the payment rates and the shorter BPS transition, which will now fall to 60% in 2026 and reduce by 20% per year thereafter. "We have been consistent in our calls for the BPS transition to follow five equal reductions starting at 80% in 2026 as was initially proposed by the Welsh Government. "FUW members can be assured that the Union made its position absolutely clear on these areas throughout the negotiations. I am confident that the Union has done everything in its power to represent you and your businesses throughout this process. "This Scheme will be different to what we have historically considered as direct farm support or subsidies. I therefore urge all Welsh farmers to consider the Scheme requirements and payment rates in the context of your own businesses.' Cliff edge in 2026 NFU Cymru hit out at a "cliff edge" in 2026 which will see basic payments cut to 60 per cent in 2026 for those opting against entering the new scheme, having previously understood it would first fall to 80 per cent. Union president Aled Jones said: "Farming businesses have forward planned on this basis. 'This development is even more of a blow given significant guidance and technical detail is yet to be published which farmers need if they are to make informed decisions about whether to enter the scheme from January 1, 2026. "With harvest well underway and next year's cropping and livestock purchases already in motion, many farmers will not be able to pivot their business to join the new scheme from January. "Farming families are also grappling with difficult conversations and decisions on how to restructure their businesses to address the changes being forced upon them by the introduction of the UK Government's family farm tax from April 2026. With Welsh Government now slashing the first year of the tapered transition from the BPS, many will feel they are now stuck between a rock and a hard place.'
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
New payment scheme for farmers unveiled amid industry doubts
The plan has been seven years in the making and has been the subject of widespread protests by farmers during the consultation stages. The SFS will replace EU-era subsidies, which farmers had received for decades based largely on how much land they had. Most rely on these payments - an average of 67% of Welsh farm income - came from subsidies in 2020-21. The SFS aims to reward farmers and land managers for 'public good' practices such as like wildlife habitat and soaking up carbon in the land. Wildlife groups warned the new plan fell "far short" of helping farmers to successfully tackle climate change and nature loss. For their initial 'universal' payment, farmers will have to agree to carry out 12 actions ranging from soil health planning and habitat maintenance, to online courses to enhance knowledge and skills related to sustainable farming. There will also be funding to recognise "social value" - something farmers had called for - and which aims to recognise what are described as the wider benefits that sustainable agriculture provides to society, from food production to sustaining rural communities. An extra £1,000 will go to smaller farms in 2026 as a one-off stability payment to acknowledge the uncertain period of transition. A further optional layer of the scheme is intended to top up farm incomes for further environmental work, including woodland creation, improved public access to the countryside and support to go organic. A collaborative payment will also be available in future to support farmers working together on landscape-scale projects. The Welsh Government has said it will commit £238m in 2026 for the universal payments - equivalent to the current, main subsidy farms receive, known as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). 'Significant' funding for optional and collaborative work is also promised - with an overall budget similar to the £340m currently designated to farming. But farming unions and environmental groups alike said far more was required - closer to £500m, to account for rising costs in agriculture and the scale of what was now being asked of farmers to deliver. The Welsh Government said its plans will support food production and address environmental concerns A requirement for 10% tree cover has ben dropped. Instead the government said it was asking farmers to plant at least 0.1 hectares - or 250 trees by the end of 2028. There would be "generous support for tree and hedgerow planting" in the optional layer, including a higher payment rate for tree planting during the first three years of the scheme. The government is also targeting 1,500km (932 miles) of hedgerow extension by 2030, with an aspiration of achieving 2,000km (1,243 miles). NFU Cymru said the Welsh Government's decision to slash the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) by 40% for 2026 overshadows much of the positive work undertaken to improve the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: 'This unwelcome decision by Welsh Government is extremely worrying for farmers in Wales who had previously been informed that those opting not to enter the new Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026 would receive 80% of their BPS. Farming businesses have forward planned on this basis. 'This development is even more of a blow given significant guidance and technical detail is yet to be published which farmers need if they are to make informed decisions about whether to enter the scheme from 1st January 2026.' He also argued that '… the level of detail, constraints, administration, costs and bureaucracy attached to the SFS is significant and far greater than anything seen before. We remain deeply worried about the burden this scheme will place on a sector low in confidence and already dealing with a mountain of red tape.' Farmers Union of Wales President Ian Rickman the scheme marked a generational milestone for the future of Welsh agriculture.' 'To highlight some of the key successes, we have secured a total budget for the Universal Baseline Payment and BPS taper combined of £238 million, providing workable payment rates and much needed stability for the sector,' he said. 'This includes the provision of universal payments for common land rights holders. 'We have retained and strengthened the application of capped and redistributive payments, a longstanding policy position for the FUW and one that maximises the amount of money going to typical Welsh family farms and rural communities.'
South Wales Argus
08-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Land near Blackwood for sale for offers over £65,000
The 6.85-acre parcel of land is located on the west side of Manmoel Road near Blackwood and is up for sale by private treaty through David James Chartered Surveyors and Agricultural Valuers. According to the estate agent, the 'level-lying' pastureland is suitable for a wide range of uses including agricultural, equestrian, or amenity purposes, subject to planning permission. The land benefits from roadside access and is enclosed by post-and-wire fencing, making it an ideal opportunity for investors, smallholders, or equestrian enthusiasts looking for easily accessible, unspoiled countryside. The key features of the land include direct gated access from Manmoel Road, a natural spring water supply to the north of the plot, and proximity to local landmarks such as Pen-Y-Fan Pond and Brace's Bakery. The land is also located just 1.2 miles north of Croespenmaen and is easily accessible from the B4251 at Kendon Road. A public footpath is also located nearby (Ref: PMEN/FP28/1). Notably, the land is freehold with vacant possession upon completion and is currently registered under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), although it is not currently in any environmental agreements. The land is also bounded to the west by a ground-mounted solar array. David James Chartered Surveyors and Agricultural Valuers said: "We are delighted to bring this versatile and picturesque parcel of land to market. "Its accessibility, natural water supply, and flexible use potential make it a truly attractive investment for a range of buyers." Interested parties are encouraged to arrange a viewing of the land by appointment through the sole agent, David James. Prospective buyers are advised to contact the Magor office on 01633 880220 and to have a copy of the sales particulars on hand when viewing. The precise location of the land can be found using the What3Words coordinates: For further details or to arrange a viewing, interested parties can reach out to David James at their Magor Office located at Court Barn, West End, Magor, NP26 3HT. They can also be contacted by phone on 01633 880220 or via email at magor@ Further information can be found on their website
