A new £11m Farming Connect programme will be available for
farmers in Wales to support them as they prepare to move to the
new Sustainable Farming Scheme.
The programme was announced by the Deputy First Minister with
responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs,
Huw Irranca-Davies during a visit to Penllyn
Estate Farm.
The programme will be an integral part of the SFS and will
support the implementation of the Scheme. The key aims
will be to assist farm businesses in increasing
resilience and productivity by focusing on areas such as
improving soil health, animal health and welfare, pest
management, benchmarking and
developing additional skills and knowledge on a range
of subjects.
The Deputy First Minister, said: “I'm pleased to
announce an initial £11 million so Farming Connect can
keep providing its important services to farmers across Wales for
another year.
“That support is more important than ever. Farming Connect will
play a key role in helping farmers move towards the Sustainable
Farming Scheme, and this funding shows our commitment to
supporting them through that transition.
“I'd encourage farmers to find out more and make the most of the
support available.”
Eirwen , director of rural programmes
with Mentera, who have won the contract to deliver the
Farming Connect programme through competitive tender, said: "We
are proud of our record in delivering the Farming Connect
programme on behalf of the Welsh Government since 2011 and we are
delighted to be able to continue this work at such a crucial time
for Welsh farming. Our priority is to keep supporting
Wales's rural industry with practical, trusted services that help
farm businesses move forward. We're committed to being a steady,
constructive partner for the sector as it navigates the changes
ahead."
During his visit, the Deputy First Minister spoke
to Tom Homfray, Penllyn Estate and heard more
about how Farming Connect has supported the business over
the years. Mr Homfray, said: “Farming
Connect has been a vital resource for our business. Members of
our team have undertaken essential training courses on a
huge variety of machines, including telehandlers,
sprayers, chainsaws and quad bikes. They supported our
farm manager with the completion of his BASIS foundation course,
and our shepherd has done courses on
grassland, nutrition and parasite
management.
“They have also helped us to prepare business plans for grant
applications. It is a really good use of public money;
they enhance technical skills, improve farm safety, provide
opportunities to network, and ultimately help to boost
farm profitability through better performance.”
Notes to editors
- The new contract will begin 1 April 2026.
- Farming Connect will support all three SFS layers: Universal,
Optional, and Collaborative.
- The current Farming Connect programme has supported
over 31,000 individuals,
including 14,169 businesses.
