An agri-environment scheme to support protection of habitats on
agricultural land is to be introduced from 1 January 2024 until
the beginning of the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2025, the
Rural Affairs Minister has announced.
As the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development
Programme ends, this will provide alternative support for all
eligible farmers, including Glastir Advanced, Commons and Organic
farmers when their contracts expire on 31 December 2023
The application window for the scheme will open later this year,
with contracts commencing in January 2024 to ensure a seamless
transition as Glastir closes in December 2023.
Further details of the new scheme will made available following
discussions with stakeholders. The budget available will be
announced prior to the application window opening.
The new scheme will enable more farmers to take part and protect
habitat land, while also ensuring the important gains made by
Glastir are maintained.
The ending of Glastir also means all farmers and land managers in
Wales will be able to access all of the available Rural
Investment Schemes, a number of which will prepare them to enter
SFS. Currently, Glastir Advanced farmers are unable to apply to
the Small Grants - Environment scheme.
The Minister for Rural Affairs said: “Through Glastir, we have
supported farmers to maintain and enhance habitat protection; we
want to maintain this investment as we transition to the new
Sustainable Farming Scheme.
“I’m pleased today to announce an interim agri-environment scheme
to continue supporting farmers to protect valuable habitats ahead
of the introduction of the SFS.
“It’s important we have a scheme to ensure the valuable gains
made under Glastir are not lost, and we’re also able to encourage
more farmers to take part.
“The Climate Change Committee recommended there should be no gap
between the end of Glastir and the start of the SFS, and this is
what we are delivering today.
“The interim scheme is an important step as we progress towards
the Sustainable Farming Scheme which will support farmers to
produce food sustainably at the same time as addressing the
climate and nature emergencies. It paves the way towards
the SFS and its Sustainable Land Management principles.”
