NFU Cymru outlines future agri policies to support young farmers

As the annual Welsh Farming Week gets under way, NFU Cymru has revealed its Next Generation report, outlining key recommendations for the future of agricultural policy in Wales. 

The report comes at a crucial time of change after the Welsh government outlined proposals for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) last year, which will replace the Basic Payment Scheme and the Glastir agri-environment scheme from 2025. 

The recommendations focus on the role that local government can play in supporting council farms and ensuring those in rural communities have access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) higher education.

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They also recommend that farming is represented as a vital part of the school curriculum. 

Greater security for tenant farmers under the proposed SFS, and funding for productivity improvements, are among key recommendations, whilst greater funding is called for, particularly for young farmers and new entrants.

“Welsh government should explore how they can enable new and young entrants to access finance easier,” says the report. “Welsh government could act as a guarantor for loans.”

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said:

“Farmers are the heart of our rural communities, so ensuring the next generation of farmers see a viable future in our industry is critical to preserve the rich language, culture and heritage we have here in Wales.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and we must get it right for those that will follow in our footsteps.”

Further recommendations in the report call for a review of the Farming Connect programme to ensure it is suitable for the next generation of farmers, and maximising the use of Welsh produce within the public sector.