AIC Cymru urges Welsh Government to rethink Sustainable Farming Scheme
The substantial economic impacts of the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in Wales must be more comprehensively understood before its introduction says AIC Cymru, part of the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC).
The trade association representing agricultural supply businesses in Wales has responded to the Welsh Government's SFS consultation voicing its major concerns over the current plans, which AIC Cymru says do not support sustainable, productive agriculture.
AIC Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to urgently rethink its policy proposals for the future of farming payments in Wales, urging policymakers to engage constructively with the industry by forming a working group and listening to feedback.
The Welsh Government's economic impact assessment states that the proposed scheme - set to take effect in 2025 - will see the loss of more than 5,500 farming jobs in Wales and lead to a £199 million reduction in farm business income.
The modelling also found that there would be 800,000 fewer sheep and 122,000 fewer adult cattle farmed in Wales as a result of the scheme's introduction next year. As part of the proposed scheme, Welsh farmers would be required to commit 10% of their land to tree cover.
Michael Muncey, AIC Cymru Policy Manager, said: "In its current form, the Sustainable Farming Scheme’s economic impact on Welsh agriculture is wholly unacceptable.
"The Welsh Government’s desired environmental outcomes and climate crisis mitigation can only be achieved if we have profitable farm businesses in Wales - these proposals do not support productive, sustainable, commercial agriculture.
"We’re asking for a more thorough, ongoing and longer-term economic impact assessment to better understand the full effects of the scheme.
"We also need greater clarity from the Welsh Government on the scheme’s funding. A cross-departmental working group with industry should be established to consider how the social value of the outcomes, in addition to the environmental public goods, can be properly reflected in the payment rates for farmers.
"AIC Cymru is urging the Welsh Government to acknowledge these genuine concerns and work with the industry to get the SFS right."
AIC Cymru will continue to work together with Welsh farming unions to make the case for a more workable SFS policy.
Authors
Oli Hill
As Head of Communications, Oli creates and oversees the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media. A qualified multimedia journalist, he previously spent six years working at Farmers Weekly magazine as a Senior Reporter on the arable team, and latterly as Community Editor. More recently he was Communications Manager at Red Tractor.
