| Scheme | Summary | Window Close |
| Welsh Government Badger Vaccination Grant |
The Badger Vaccination Grant provides farmers, landowners and other organisations with the opportunity to apply for financial support. £100,000 has been made available for this grant window. Successful applicants receive up to 50% of the eligible costs of badger vaccination. Successful applicants will be able to begin vaccinating from May 2022 subject to obtaining a badger vaccination licence. If you have any questions, or would like to apply for the grant, please contact: Lydia Chambers |
10th March 2022 |
| BPS Transfer of Entitlements |
The transfer notification facility for 2022 entitlements is available on RPW Online. RPW must be notified by 15 May 2022 in order for the recipient to make a claim on entitlements they are receiving for the 2022 BPS scheme year. FUW members are welcome to contact their local County Office for assistance. |
15th May 2022 |
| Learn Welsh course for the agricultural sector |
The National Centre for Learning Welsh and Menter a Busnes have launched a new online Learn Welsh Course for the agricultural sector.
For more information, please email |
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| Farming Connect Advisory Service |
The Farming Connect Advisory Service is available to anyone who is registered with Farming Connect. It provides up to 80% funded advice for individuals or 100% funding for group sessions. It aims to ensure that you:
Further information can be found here. |
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| Farming Connect What’s On |
As a result of the pandemic, Farming Connect has taken the decision to postpone all open events and one-to-many events until further notice. They are conducting a number of activities digitally or over the phone where possible. More information can be found here: |
Agricultural Policy
In response to reports of land being bought up in Wales for the purpose of tree planting and carbon sequestration, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) hosted a well received webinar on 19th January titled ‘Preventing Wales' Corporate Carbon Land Grab: Balancing carbon, trees and rural communities’.
Chaired by FUW Policy Officer, Teleri Fielden, the webinar gave an insight into the situation in Wales.
As part of Wales’ route to Net Zero, the Welsh Government has set an ambitious target of planting an additional 180,000 hectares (ha) with trees by 2050 and to improve woodland management. This is equivalent to 10% of Welsh farmland.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that the 2022 direct payment budget will be maintained at 2020 and 2021 levels.
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths announced on 23 December 2021 that a total direct payment ceiling of £238 million would be provided, in 2022, matching the budgets in 2020 and 2021.
The Minister’s decision recognises the importance of the direct support budget not only to the 16,000 or so farm businesses that rely on it, but also the many more tens of thousands of businesses that benefit from these payments.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has raised its concerns regarding proposed changes to the registration and reporting of livestock movement.
In its response to the Welsh Government's 'Changes to Livestock Identification, Registration and Movement Reporting Consultation', the Union highlighted numerous areas where the proposals would lead to increases in costs and bureaucracy for farmers.
These come at a time when the UK is agreeing trade deals with countries such as Australia and New Zealand where such burdens do not come close to what is already required of Welsh farmers, let alone what is proposed.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ (FUW) Milk and Dairy produce Committee has warned that rising energy prices are not sustainable for the sector.
The warning comes after reports from dairy farmers of energy costs rising by up to £1000 a month, with costs expected to increase further.
The farming sector in general is already under huge pressure. The increase in energy prices, which in some cases have been reported to be an extra £1000 a month for dairy businesses, is a blow for all in the industry.