Cabinet resignations ‘won’t derail Welsh SFS plans’

The Welsh Labour government says it remains committed to introducing the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026, despite this week’s ministerial upheavals.

Wales’ first minister Vaughan Gething has announced plans to quit after four members of his cabinet, including former rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths, resigned on Tuesday (16 July) in protest over his leadership.

Mr Gething had been embroiled in controversy over donations he received during his leadership campaign and the sacking of minister Hannah Blythyn. However, he will remain in post until a successor is found.

See also: Enforcement of Welsh NVZ regs “challenging”, admits WG

The first minister was due to attend next week’s Royal Welsh Show, where among his engagements he was the keynote speaker at the NFU Cymru stand on the opening morning of the show (22 July), alongside union president Aled Jones and NFU president Tom Bradshaw.

Rural affairs cabinet secretary Huw Irranca-Davies told Farmers Weekly he was “getting on with the day job” and the work of Welsh government, including the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), will continue.

Interim schemes

The Welsh government this week announced details of five interim support schemes for farmers and landowners, which will be implemented in 2025 as a “preparatory phase” before the SFS is introduced in 2026.

This follows earlier confirmation that Basic Payment Scheme payments will continue in 2025.

The schemes include the Habitat Wales Scheme (HWS), extension of existing HWS Commons Agreements, Organic Support payments and extension of the Farming Connect business advisory service.

A new Integrated Natural Resources Scheme will support farmer-focused partnerships “delivering nature-based solutions at various scales, aiding the transition to SFS Collaborative Actions”.

Farmers who wish apply for HWS 2025 will be encouraged to complete a data confirmation exercise via Rural Payments Wales online to provide a “more accurate picture of the habitat and tree cover across their farm”, in preparation for the scheme and the introduction of the SFS in 2026.  

Garry Williams, a hill farmer based in the Brecon Beacons National Park, was previously a Glastir Advanced Environmental Scheme holder, who has been involved in various agri-environment schemes for 25 years.

Last year, Mr Williams withdrew from HWS 2024 because of a 60% cut in payments for delivering the same environmental goods.

“Many farmers on seeing the details of the HWS expressed interest, but did not sign up for the scheme due to the savage cuts in payments,” he said.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said more detail is needed, including the budget allocations and payment rates affiliated to these interim schemes, amid farmer concerns that the agriculture budget for Wales faces further cuts.

10% tree cover plans

Asked if he intends to scrap plans for 10% tree cover on all farms, Mr Irranca-Davies told Farmers Weekly he “would not pre-empt” the work of the ministerial roundtable and carbon sequestration review group, which are both believed to be exploring solutions.

One industry source said: “In the spring, Welsh farmers held large protests against some of the Welsh government’s plans for farming policy, especially proposals for 10% tree cover in the SFS, blanket unworkable NVZ regulations and inaction on bovine TB.

“Huw Irranca-Davies has brought together two groups [the Carbon Sequestration Evidence Review Panel and SFS officials] to look at some of the issues.

“While these issues haven’t gone away, it’s important that the cabinet secretary and those on the groups are given breathing space to assess them.”