The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ response to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme: “Keeping farmers farming” consultation has highlighted the concerning amount of change that is required to make sure the scheme is fit for purpose within the time available.

The Union’s response was compiled following discussions with members and sector representatives at thirteen regional meetings across Wales

The Farmers’ Union of Wales had a follow-up meeting with the Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales representative and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths on 4th March to discuss further details of the joint statement published last week.

The statement by the First Minister, Mark Drakeford and Lesley Griffiths published on 27th February outlined some next steps regarding the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), in addition to repeated comments around the issues of bovine TB and the Control of Agricultural Pollution (CoAP) NVZ regulations.

Following a protest by thousands of farmers and staff from associated businesses on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on 28 February, the Senedd proceeded to debate and vote down two motions on policies relating to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and bovine TB.

The Welsh Conservatives motion called on the Welsh Government to scrap the current sustainable farming scheme proposals and to re-engage with the farming sector to develop a new scheme that has the support of the farming community.

It is positive to see that at least some steps are already being considered from the Rural Affairs Minister’s announcement (27 Feb) with regards to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

The FUW have made the feeling of its members abundantly clear during the meeting with the Welsh Government (19 February). At that meeting the FUW called for a rethink of the current SFS proposals and for closer collaboration of the changes needed on the scheme in conjunction with interested parties and both farming unions.