Farmer Focus: Mixed verdict on new Welsh farm payments
Joe Mault © Richard Stanton It’s been a busy couple of weeks in Welsh agriculture.
First came the eagerly awaited details of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which confirmed the headline payment rates for Welsh farmers.
Then the iconic Royal Welsh Show, which drew crowds and good livestock numbers considering the bluetongue ban.
And finally, the Corwen Shears competition at Rhug Estate, which once again delivered an electric atmosphere.
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The Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) update proposes a whole farm payment of £70/ha for the first 70ha (173 acres) of eligible land, and £2/ha for any additional eligible land, including apportioned common land rights.
Additionally, a social value payment of £107/ha is available for all eligible land.
Farmers maintaining (or creating temporary) habitats can receive a payment of £69/ha.
Those managing woodlands are eligible for a woodland maintenance payment of £62/ha.
This clarity is welcomed, but farmers will still find it hard to plan because this is only an annual budgetary commitment.
I struggle to trust politicians that these figures will remain long term, so it is essential we get a multi-year agreement that is aligned with inflationary figures too.
However, I appreciate and like the separation of payments to highlight the wider role farmers play in society through the social value payment, which can be wide-ranging, from our carbon capture potential, to maintaining our beautiful countryside and enhancing tourism.
The Welsh government has also launched a “ready reckoner” to help farmers estimate their indicative SFS payment, which I have gladly tried.
Broadly speaking, we are in the same place as we were with BPS, but with a lot more paperwork to do on top of farming.
Some of the universal actions that are being asked of Welsh farmers are things that we are already doing, such as soil health management.
But speaking to many farming colleagues at the Royal Welsh Show, they are feeling anxious and frustrated at being asked to broaden what is being asked of them for the same return.
It’s also interesting that for years we have been taking trees out of our single farm payment applications as non-eligible areas.
Now, we are doing the opposite and looking for trees and habitat to put into our applications – our eligible area is growing along with the trees.