Minister reveals more details on Welsh SFS transition
Huw Irranca-Davies © MAG/Philip Case More details on how Welsh farmers will be asked to transition to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) have been revealed.
Speaking at the Hybu Cig Cymru breakfast briefing at the Royal Welsh Show, cabinet minister for climate change and rural affairs Huw Irranca-Davies mapped out key points in the transition to the SFS in 2026.
Outgoing first minister Vaughan Gething was present at the event, as rumours circulated in the 100-strong audience that Mr Irranca-Davies could be given a different role in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
See also: NFU Cymru calls for £79m uplift in BPS funding
Health secretary Eluned Morgan has confirmed she will be standing to replace Mr Gething as first minister, with fellow cabinet minister Mr Irranca-Davies running as her deputy.
While questions remain over whether he could do both jobs, the rural affairs minister said he was “focused on the day job” and gave more details on the SFS transition.
Lessons learned
Mr Irranca-Davies said “lessons had been learned” from the 2024 Habitat Wales Scheme (HWS) and, as such, a voluntary data exercise will be undertaken on farms eligible to enter the scheme to determine the habitat area, the tree canopy and woodland cover for every farm.
“This will enable support for 2025 to be based on confirmed information, informed by farming, while preparing farmers for the introduction of the SFS in 2026,” he said.
Amid concerns about Welsh government proposals to introduce a 10% tree cover obligation on all farms, Mr Irranca-Davies stressed: “This is not a scheme declaration. It is a data exercise.
“We’re not going to penalise anyone for updating any tree canopy and woodland cover on their farm. Farmers will have another opportunity to reconfirm the details in future under the 2025 HWS and the SFS.”
The voluntary data confirmation exercise will go live on the Rural Payments Wales (RPW) online from today (Monday 22 July) until 6 December. The minister encouraged all farmers in Wales to take part.
The Organic Support Payment will be offered again in 2025 and all fully certified organic farms in Wales will be eligible to claim support.
The Welsh government will also extend existing support for common land in 2025.
New scheme launch
Applications for the new Integrated Natural Resources Scheme (INRS) will open in August to fund the development phase of this scheme.
“The INRS will support partnerships, centred on farmers that will deliver nature-based solutions across a landscape, a catchment, or even pan-Wales,” the minister explained.
The Welsh government will initiate an SFS preparatory phase in 2025 to prepare farmers for the start of the transition in 2026.
Basic Payment Scheme support will also be maintained in 2025.
The current Farming Connect offer will be extended for 12 months, to March 2026.
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