Today, the first day of the Royal Welsh Show, two Senedd Committees have today outlined concerns about the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee has described the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) as ‘beset with delays, mis-communication and unprecedented levels of concern about whether it can deliver.’
The Committee is raising issues with the scheme’s design, its targets for tree cover and how they can be met, and the methodology of payments to farmers. Significant fears have been raised with the Committee about the SFS and how it is not taking into consideration the future of farming by supporting new entrants and tenant farmers.
Members of the Committee also heard frustrations from environmental organisations about delays to the scheme.
The report launched today is raising important questions for the Welsh Government: how it can make sure the SFS is accessible to all farmers, regardless of their farm type and tenure, and how can it balance the protection of the future of farming and food production with tackling climate and nature emergencies.
Since the passing of the Agriculture (Wales) Act last summer and mass protests from farmers, the Welsh Government has delayed the introduction of the SFS to work with the industry and unions to develop proposals further.
The Committee is now calling on the Welsh Government to outline how it is listening to farmers’ concerns and how it will amend its plans to reflect their views.
Paul Davies, chair of the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee said:
“We’ve consistently raised concerns on behalf of farmers that the Welsh Government simply isn’t listening to their concerns.
“At this year’s Royal Welsh show it will be almost a year since the Welsh Government’s Agriculture Act became law and delays on implementing it remain. For those involved in farming, and for those working to protect our environment, this uncertainty is worrying.
“A major concern throughout this process is the way the Welsh Government has communicated the big changes coming from the SFS. It’s essential that farmers are involved throughout the process and are kept up to date.
“We’re calling on the Welsh Government to demonstrate how they are adapting their plans to meet the needs of our agriculture industry and our environment.”
Tree planting
The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee has also carried out an inquiry looking at the SFS.
The Committee is clear that increasing tree planting is essential if Wales is to meet its climate change targets but acknowledged the strong feeling from farmers that this would make many businesses unviable.
Work developing this scheme began over seven years ago, and with recently announced delays, the Committee is calling for the Welsh Government to publish a timetable for the next stages as soon as possible.
The scheme’s most controversial aspect is the requirement for farmers to have 10% of their land under tree cover to help capture and store carbon as well as protect at-risk wildlife and to boost biodiversity.
The Committee says that they are open to alternatives to the tree cover requirement as long as they deliver the intended results and urged the Welsh Government to consult the UK Climate Change Committee on other solutions.
Llyr Gruffydd MS, Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, said:
“The Sustainable Farming Scheme is a new chapter for Welsh agriculture, but the Welsh Government has a lot of work to do before it’s ready to be rolled out.
“With the Welsh Government now having worked on these plans for close to a decade, it’s imperative that solutions are found so that a workable scheme can be up and running for 2026.
“The SFS has the potential to put agriculture on a truly sustainable footing, with farmers taking the lead in the fight against climate change and nature decline. I would urge the Welsh Government to adopt our recommendations before moving ahead.”
Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme Read the report
Report on proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme Read the report