Huw Irranca-Davies, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, has confirmed a number of schemes to support farmers and landowners before the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) is introduced in 2026.
In May, a new timeframe for the SFS was introduced as part of a Welsh Government commitment to listening to farmers and rural communities. The scheme will now begin in 2026, giving more time to engage with key partners. The 2025 preparatory phase will include a number of schemes which will provide advice and support to farmers in advance of the introduction of SFS.
The schemes include:
- Habitat Wales Scheme is offered in 2025 with all eligible individual farmers able to apply.
- Existing Habitat Wales Scheme Commons agreements can be extended for 2025.
- The Organic Support Payment will be maintained for 2025.
- An extension to Farming Connect to 2026, continuing the knowledge transfer and innovation support on farms.
- A new Integrated Natural Resources Scheme will support farmer-focused partnerships delivering nature-based solutions across a landscape, catchment or on a pan Wales scale. It will continue the transition to a new way of supporting farmers and the vital work they do ahead of the introduction of SFS Collaborative Actions.
In addition to these five schemes, a data confirmation form has opened to update RPW mapping systems to confirm habitat areas and tree canopy cover across Wales at field and farm level in advance of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) design being finalised. The data confirmation form is available until 6th December 2024.
Huw Irranca-Davies said:
“The announcement of the schemes is intended to give reassurance to farmers that support will continue to be available in the lead up to 2026.
“We also recognise the transition from the Basic Payment Scheme will be a significant change for many farmers, and we therefore intend to help, guide and support Welsh farmers for a number of years as we finalise and move towards the SFS.
“We will continue to work with farmers and landowners at pace through the Ministerial Roundtable to finalise the Scheme so that we can provide certainty about future support as soon as possible. Subject to budget availability, we will confirm additional 2025 support schemes later this year.”
Farmers who wish to apply for Habitat Wales Scheme 2025 are encouraged to complete the data confirmation form.
