A tenant farming family from Pembrokeshire is at a crossroads, as they try to make sense of the on-going chaos caused by the Habitat Wales scheme and uncertainty around future funding.
Haydn and Julia Mathias farm at Moor Farm, Cresselly, Kilgetty, where they keep a herd of suckler cows in an organic system on 177 acres. The farm has always been in some form of agri environment scheme starting with the Preseli ESA which led to Tir Gofal and in more recent years Glastir Entry leading to Glastir Advanced. They have also participated in Welsh Government organic schemes since they started in organic conversion in 2001.
“The EOI for the Habitat Wales Scheme, if accepted, will generate approximately £2,404 for the farm. In 2022 our Glastir Advanced contract generated £5,190.93 and our Glastir Organic contract generated £4,457.20. With both these contracts ending on 31 December 2023, we are now looking at a drop of 75% in our income in 2024 if we are offered a contract for the Habitat Wales Scheme,” said Mr Mathias.