Sustainable Farming Scheme still needs work prior to launch, says NFU Cymru

With only weeks remaining before Wales’s new farming support scheme, the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) launches, more must be done to ensure it is fit for purpose, according to NFU Cymru.

While the union says the framework is right, issues around universal actions, such as animal health and welfare and hedgerows, need addressing, while uncertainty over the optional layer remains.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: “We remain of the firm view that there is still work to do to evolve the scheme, to ensure it can deliver for Welsh farming and the communities that it underpins.”

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Mr Jones added that he was reassured that deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies is prepared to listen to specific concerns and amend scheme elements as needed.

Universal actions

Issues with the current universal action, NFU Cymru said, include animal health and welfare, which shouldn’t duplicate the animal health improvement cycle and the biosecurity risk assessment requirements, and the requirements of farm assurance schemes operating in Wales.

During a recent meeting with Mr Irranca-Davies, the union further expressed disappointment that new hedge planting will not be recognised as a measure of progress within the trees and hedgerow opportunity plan.

The proposals for six hours of training required annually through the continuing professional development (CPD) universal action was another sticking point.

Mr Jones said the broad range of valuable CPD opportunities provided by organisations such as NFU Cymru should be included.

Optional layer

Progress must also be made on proposals under the optional layer of the SFS to support productivity and efficiency on farm, and to increase the profitability and sustainability of farming businesses.

“The development of a well-resourced, practical sustainable production offer is going to be crucial to help meet our ambition for the continued growth of the food and farming sector in Wales, and to address some of the challenges that the Welsh government’s economic modelling and impact assessment of the SFS picked up this autumn,” said Mr Jones.

Funding

He added that a properly resourced universal layer and social value payment that provides stability to farming businesses must continue to be at the heart of the SFS both now and in the future. 

“The current government and any future government must give an ongoing commitment to maintain, as a minimum, the 70:30 budget split between the universal and optional/collaborative layers,” he said. 

Therefore, an increased budget of at least £500m is required to account for inflation and to support shared ambitions for food, climate, environment, communities and language.