Welsh farms receive 70% BPS advance

More than 15,500 farm businesses in Wales have this week received their first advance payments under the 2024 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), worth almost £158m.

According to Rural Payments Wales, more than 96% of claimants have been paid the equivalent of 70% of their estimated claim value.

Balancing payments will be made from 12 December, subject to full validation of the BPS claim.

See also: Wales ‘getting left behind’ on farm tenant policy

Deputy first minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, who also has responsibility for rural affairs, said the advance payments would give farming businesses and families across Wales “reassurance and stability” for the year ahead.

“Rural Payments Wales will be working hard to ensure full and remaining balance payments are made as early as possible, once the payment window opens in December,” he said.

All but the most complex BPS claims are expected to be fully validated, and payments made, before the end of the payment window on 30 June 2025.

‘Major boost’

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said the support would be a “major boost” for farmer cash flow, “along with the allied industries who rely on farmers for so much of their income”.

“We also welcome the maintenance of the BPS budget for 2024, providing much needed stability and certainty to a sector that has faced a turbulent year,” he added.

NFU Cymru believes that Welsh farming now needs a minimum budget of £500m annually to take account of inflation, compared with the current £238m.

Other regions

Advance BPS and “greening” payments for farmers in Scotland, worth about £243m, went out in early September.

The Scottish government has committed to pay the balance, worth about another £160m, in December, when it will also distribute young farmer and Less Favoured Area payments.

In England, the first 50% instalments of the new “delinked” payments – equivalent to the old BPS money, but subject to a 50%-70% cut from reference amounts – went out on early August, worth just over £400m.

The remaining 50% balancing payments started to go out from 30 September.