Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, : Today I am publishing the Welsh Government's
response to the feedback received to the consultation; Sustainable Farming Scheme:
Keeping farmers farming. This consultation was the
latest step in developing our future agricultural support for
Wales. I'd like to thank everyone who participated in the
consultation and who shared their views in other ways, including
through the roadshows held earlier this year.
Our ambition is for a vibrant and prosperous farming industry,
and the ongoing sustainable production of food is at the core of
our proposals. As part of this, we need to acknowledge the nature
and climate emergency is the main risk to food production over
the long term, and our natural ecosystems are the best defence we
have in the adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
Since my appointment, I have been listening to the farming
industry and other key stakeholders and I want to work in
partnership with them to finalise the Scheme. To this end, I have
already hosted two Ministerial Roundtable meetings. The purpose
of the Roundtable is to further develop the partnership approach
needed to finalise the design and implementation of the Scheme,
building on previous phases of co-design and engagement. Whilst
final decisions will be taken by Welsh Ministers, the Roundtable
has an important role to play in shaping the Scheme.
Alongside this, the Carbon Sequestration Evidence Panel has met
twice and will over the summer consider any further and
alternative proposals to achieve additional carbon sequestration
within the Universal Actions of the Scheme. I am grateful for the
time and commitment that all stakeholders are providing through
the Ministerial Roundtable and other supporting groups. Their
input is essential in informing the decisions Welsh Ministers
will ultimately need to take on the Scheme design and its
delivery.
We expect to provide updates from the Ministerial Roundtable
periodically through the year.
I want to reiterate that no decisions on the Scheme design have
yet been made. We have heard and understood the concerns raised
through this consultation process, and it is clear changes need
to be made before the Scheme is ready to be introduced. And I
have been clear that the Scheme will only be introduced when it
is ready. This is why I have announced a new timeframe for the
introduction of the Scheme.
We intend for the SFS to commence in 2026. This will be preceded
by a Preparatory Phase in 2025 providing advice and support to
farmers in advance of the Scheme's introduction.
We will publish further details on the Preparatory Phase for 2025
in due course, along with details on the Basic Payment Scheme in
2025 and other schemes which will be available prior to the
introduction of the SFS.
I know that this has been an unsettling time for many farmers and
their families. We will continue to work at pace to finalise the
Scheme so that we can provide certainty about future support as
soon as possible. By working together, we can ensure a
sustainable agriculture industry in Wales for generations to
come.
