Written by Ernie Richards, Advisory Service Officer for Wales at CXCS
Welsh farmers are being given additional financial and practical support following the exceptionally difficult conditions experienced during 2026, including the impacts of drought and wildfires.
The Welsh Government has announced two significant changes: advance payments under the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will increase from 70% to 80%, while changes to the closed period will give farmers additional time to spread slurry and manure this autumn.
The measures are intended to help ease cash-flow pressures and address concerns around higher-than-normal slurry storage levels following a summer in which dry conditions affected grass growth, cutting and grazing patterns.
Ernie Richards, Advisory Service Officer for Wales at CXCS, explains what has changed and what farmers need to be aware of over the coming weeks.
SFS and BPS advance payments increase to 80%
Advance payments under the SFS Universal Layer and BPS will be made from 14th October 2026.
The advance payment rate has been increased from the usual 70% to 80% of each farm’s estimated eligible claim value, meaning eligible businesses will receive a greater proportion of their expected payment earlier.
Balance payments are due to begin from 11th December 2026, subject to the necessary validation, eligibility checks and any required inspections.
For farmers participating in SFS, there is an additional point to be aware of. Farm businesses will need to complete their SFS Universal Dashboard, confirming completion of all applicable Universal Actions, before their SFS balance payment can be made.
Slurry and manure spreading period extended
The prolonged dry weather experienced this summer significantly reduced grass growth on many farms and disrupted normal cutting, grazing and slurry-spreading patterns.
As a result, some farms are heading into autumn with higher slurry storage levels than would normally be expected.
In response, the Welsh Government has announced a one-off change to the closed period for 2026, giving farmers additional time to manage slurry and manure before winter.
For soils other than sandy or shallow soils, the final spreading date is being extended from 15th October to 15th November 2026.
A spreading window will also be available on sandy or shallow soils from 15th October to 15th November 2026.
The changes apply to slurry and manure only. The closed period requirements for manufactured nitrogen fertiliser remain unchanged.
What restrictions will apply?
The extension does not mean slurry can be spread without restriction.
During the extended period:
- A maximum of 30m³ of slurry per hectare can be spread at any one time
- There must be at least three weeks between applications
- Poultry manure is excluded from the change
The usual requirements around protecting water quality and avoiding pollution also continue to apply.
Farmers should therefore consider soil and weather conditions before spreading and make sure applications are properly planned and recorded.
What does this mean for your farm?
The additional spreading window could provide some much-needed flexibility for farms carrying higher slurry levels following the dry summer.
However, the change applies for the 2026 spreading period only, and it remains important to make sure any spreading is carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements.
Now is also a good time to review slurry storage levels and capacity ahead of winter and make sure your records are up to date.
Need help?
If you are unsure how the changes to the spreading period apply to your farm, or need support with nutrient management, slurry records or other agricultural compliance requirements, our team can help.
Speak to the CXCS team on 01981 590514 or email info@cxcs.co.uk.
You can also read the full Welsh Government announcement on the Welsh Government website.
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