Policy reform and £5m loans top Welsh farming agenda

NFU Cymru has urged the Welsh government to create policies that enable farmers to deliver for food production, the environment and rural communities.

Speaking at the sixth annual NFU Cymru/Wynnstay Sustainable Farming Conference at Pant Farm, Abergavenny, on Tuesday 30 June, union president Abi Reader said the new political landscape offered an opportunity to reset the relationship between government and the farming industry.

She said Welsh farming could secure a productive, profitable and progressive future if supported by the right policy framework.

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“We need a policy framework that recognises that the best outcomes for food production, for the environment and for rural communities will only be achieved when farmers are part of the solution from the outset.”

Agriculture priorities

Ms Reader also outlined a series of priorities for ministers, including a comprehensive Farm to Fork Food Strategy and a multi-year agricultural budget that increases in line with inflation.

She called for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) to continue evolving where evidence shows changes are needed and sought assurances that at least 70% of the Universal layer budget would be protected.

She also pressed for amendments to several Universal actions within the scheme.

Sustainable agriculture loan

Alongside the conference, the Welsh government reminded farmers that applications open on 1 July for its new £5m Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme.

The one-year pilot, delivered by the Development Bank of Wales, offers fixed-rate loans at 3% interest, with eligible businesses able to borrow between £25,001 and £1m over terms of up to 15 years.

The funding can be used for investments including energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, land and building improvements, and new equipment, helping farmers spread the upfront cost of long-term business improvements.