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Powys County Times
15-07-2025
- 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.'
Powys County Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Welsh Government urged to act on massive loss of abattoirs
WALES' diminishing local abattoir infrastructure has been highlighted to the Welsh Government. Several organisations, including the Farmers' Union of Wales have written to the Government raising the critical issue. The letter, addressed to Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, has been co-signed by eight organisations, including Nature Friendly Farming Network, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Pasture for Life, Plantlife Cymru, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, RSPB Cymru, the Sustainable Food Trust and the Farmers' Union of Wales. In 1990 there were 58 red meat abattoirs in Wales, whereas today there are just 15, with nine being small-medium, and five of these being classed as small. Even fewer are able to provide all of the services farmers need to sell directly to local consumers, such as butchering, packaging, processing small numbers of animals, multi-species animals, having organic certification, and the ability to deal with horned animals, or those 'over thirty months' (OTM). This issue puts Welsh farmers' ability to sell and distinguish their products from imports produced to lower environmental and animal welfare standards at risk. All co-signatures of the letter highlighted the role of grazing livestock for the management and enhancement of priority habitats across Wales, from peatlands to salt marshes, species-rich grasslands to heathlands, ffriddoedd and 'Celtic Woodlands'. Farmers' Union of Wales president Ian Rickman said: 'The FUW has been clear that if the Welsh Government wants to promote a 'circular economy' and ensure Welsh produce produced to high environmental standards can be marketed as such, then the abattoir infrastructure is an essential enabler. "The fact that Australian and New Zealand lamb imports have increased by 78 per cent, at the same time that farmers in Wales are struggling to sell their produce locally, makes no sense. "Such a situation undermines the efforts farmers are making to enhance biodiversity, nutritional value, and low carbon produce sold to Welsh consumers, as well as the integrity of Welsh Lamb and Beef's 'Protected Geographical Indication' status. Other issues facing abattoirs include 'animal by-products' which used to represent an income stream for abattoirs and contributed towards a circular economy, which are now an added cost due to disposal charges. Teleri Fielden, Farmers' Union of Wales policy officer added: 'Farmers in Wales are rightfully proud of our high animal welfare standards and the quality of life afforded to many grazing livestock. "While out of the farmers' control, short journeys to slaughter is part of this, as is access to casualty and emergency slaughter services. "However, there is only one slaughterhouse in Wales which has the 'contract' to receive BovineTB reactors, creating lengthy journeys and additional stress to both the animal and the farmer experiencing a bTB breakdown.
North Wales Live
13-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Hard border between Wales and England to halt deadly disease could be 'costly and futile'
Livestock farmers in Wales face hard border arrangements with England in what some believe is a futile attempt to halt the advance of a deadly disease. The industry fears being crippled by the need to test and licence vast numbers of sheep and cattle when they cross the border into England. Unlike England, Wales is still free of bluetongue, a viral disease that cause ulcers around the animal's mouth and face. In the Netherlands, tens of thousands of sheep have died and British farmers fear worse could happen in the UK. In an attempt to contain the virus' spread, an England-wide restricted zone (RZ) is to be imposed from July 1. In practice this means existing movement controls will be eased with farmer encouraged to use new bluetongue vaccines instead. The Welsh Government is reluctant to follow suit, fearing a freedom-of-movement regime will hasten bluetongue's spread into the country. Instead, Cardiff wants to keep the virus at bay 'for as long as we can' and so has opted not to apply an RZ in the county. But the Welsh farming sector has warned the implications could be 'catastrophic' for cross-border trade. Some 550 cross-border agri businesses and straddle the Wales-England border and each year tens of thousands of animals are shipped out to livestock markets. It also has major implications for July's Royal Welsh Show, Europe's largest agri showcase and the biggest annual event in Wales. Livestock exhibitors from England and Scotland will now be unable to attend, slashing the cattle entry by 40%. Refunds are being processed. Urging Cardiff to align Wales with England, the industry has branded the looming arrangements as both 'a futile endeavour and wholly impractical'. FUW president Ian Rickman said farmers' first instincts were to keep any disease out of Wales – but in this case the solution could be economically disastrous. Mr Rickman said midges carrying the disease are likely to blow into Wales regardless of England's RZ. He said the insects 'do not respect any such boundaries' and the RZ will hasten the spread of bluetongue to Wales anyway. 'The on-farm practicalities involved with adhering to this policy position brings with it a wealth of barriers and complications,' he said. 'The mechanics of issuing licences in a timely manner, arranging and conducting pre-movement sampling and testing, co-ordinating haulage and the extortionate costs and disruption to cross-border holdings and trade – it is feared that the decision to hold back the tide will be entirely unattainable and impractical.' While Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) poses a serious threat to cattle, sheep, goats deer and alpacas across the UK, it does not affect humans or compromise food safety. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said he had agonised over the decision. On balance, it was the lesser of two evils, he said, adding: 'I cannot in all conscience invite Bluetongue into Wales on 1st July through aligning with the RZ in England. 'I am unwilling to risk the uncertain impact of the disease in livestock dense areas like the Welsh borders. I am also extremely concerned about the economic and farmer wellbeing impacts of dealing with sick animals, and the livestock productivity and fertility losses associated with severe Bluetongue, as observed in many affected European countries.' By setting up border arrangements, it's hoped this will buy time for Welsh farmers to vaccinate their animals against the disease. If Bluetongue does arrive in Wales anyway, disease controls will be implemented. Being a fast-changing situation, Mr Irranca-Davies pledged to 'adapt to the evolving disease situation'. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said Welsh farmers were 'extremely worried' about the disease - but also about the containment and testing strategy. He said: 'We have significant concerns about the lack of resources and testing capacity within the laboratories and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) given the significant amount of stock that move across the border from England to Wales for management, welfare and trading purposes. 'We understand that going forward the costs of testing will be borne by the farmer, which will cause a huge increase to the cost of trading. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'We are about to enter an extremely important time of the year in the farming calendar, with many farmers looking to trade breeding stock and store stock ahead of the autumn and winter months. 'For many herds and flocks, the opportunity to trade breeding stock, both those looking to purchase or sell stock, only comes once a year and this trade is critical. Welsh Government must ensure that a sustainable solution is found as soon as possible.'
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Hard border between Wales and England to halt deadly disease could be 'costly and futile'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Livestock farmers in Wales face hard border arrangements with England in what some believe is a futile attempt to halt the advance of a deadly disease. The industry fears being crippled by the need to test and licence vast numbers of sheep and cattle when they cross the border into England. Unlike England, Wales is still free of bluetongue, a viral disease that cause ulcers around the animal's mouth and face. In the Netherlands, tens of thousands of sheep have died and British farmers fear worse could happen in the UK. In an attempt to contain the virus' spread, an England-wide restricted zone (RZ) is to be imposed from July 1. In practice this means existing movement controls will be eased with farmer encouraged to use new bluetongue vaccines instead. The Welsh Government is reluctant to follow suit, fearing a freedom-of-movement regime will hasten bluetongue's spread into the country. Instead, Cardiff wants to keep the virus at bay 'for as long as we can' and so has opted not to apply an RZ in the county. But the Welsh farming sector has warned the implications could be 'catastrophic' for cross-border trade. Some 550 cross-border agri businesses and straddle the Wales-England border and each year tens of thousands of animals are shipped out to livestock markets. It also has major implications for July's Royal Welsh Show, Europe's largest agri showcase and the biggest annual event in Wales. Livestock exhibitors from England and Scotland will now be unable to attend, slashing the cattle entry by 40%. Refunds are being processed. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Urging Cardiff to align Wales with England, the industry has branded the looming arrangements as both 'a futile endeavour and wholly impractical'. FUW president Ian Rickman said farmers' first instincts were to keep any disease out of Wales – but in this case the solution could be economically disastrous. Mr Rickman said midges carrying the disease are likely to blow into Wales regardless of England's RZ. He said the insects 'do not respect any such boundaries' and the RZ will hasten the spread of bluetongue to Wales anyway. 'The on-farm practicalities involved with adhering to this policy position brings with it a wealth of barriers and complications,' he said. 'The mechanics of issuing licences in a timely manner, arranging and conducting pre-movement sampling and testing, co-ordinating haulage and the extortionate costs and disruption to cross-border holdings and trade – it is feared that the decision to hold back the tide will be entirely unattainable and impractical.' While Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) poses a serious threat to cattle, sheep, goats deer and alpacas across the UK, it does not affect humans or compromise food safety. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said he had agonised over the decision. On balance, it was the lesser of two evils, he said, adding: 'I cannot in all conscience invite Bluetongue into Wales on 1st July through aligning with the RZ in England. 'I am unwilling to risk the uncertain impact of the disease in livestock dense areas like the Welsh borders. I am also extremely concerned about the economic and farmer wellbeing impacts of dealing with sick animals, and the livestock productivity and fertility losses associated with severe Bluetongue, as observed in many affected European countries.' (Image: Fourrure/Wiki) By setting up border arrangements, it's hoped this will buy time for Welsh farmers to vaccinate their animals against the disease. If Bluetongue does arrive in Wales anyway, disease controls will be implemented. Being a fast-changing situation, Mr Irranca-Davies pledged to 'adapt to the evolving disease situation'. NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said Welsh farmers were 'extremely worried' about the disease - but also about the containment and testing strategy. He said: 'We have significant concerns about the lack of resources and testing capacity within the laboratories and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) given the significant amount of stock that move across the border from England to Wales for management, welfare and trading purposes. 'We understand that going forward the costs of testing will be borne by the farmer, which will cause a huge increase to the cost of trading. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'We are about to enter an extremely important time of the year in the farming calendar, with many farmers looking to trade breeding stock and store stock ahead of the autumn and winter months. 'For many herds and flocks, the opportunity to trade breeding stock, both those looking to purchase or sell stock, only comes once a year and this trade is critical. Welsh Government must ensure that a sustainable solution is found as soon as possible.' Find out what's happening near you
