The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the announcement that support payments will be made available to all fully-certified organic producers in Wales this year, providing much-needed certainty for the sector.

This is welcome news for the Welsh organic sector following the end of the Glastir Organic Scheme and especially for those who continue to face inflationary pressures.

Farms in Wales are crucial in driving economic growth in Wales - that was the key message from Farmers’ Union of Wales when it addressed Members of the Senedd at the annual Cardiff breakfast event (Tuesday 16 February 2024).

It is now more important than ever for politicians and policy makers to fully understand the economic role played by farm support within the context of our rural economy and the crucial role farms play in driving economic growth.  

In a bid to engage farmers in Wales with the final proposals of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, the Farmers’ Union of Wales is hosting an information roadshow for members during January and February.

The Welsh Government launched the pivotal consultation on the future of the Sustainable Farming Scheme in December 2023 and it is the mechanism through which farmers will receive support in Wales from 2025 onwards.

Following the devastating news that TATA steel intends closing blast furnaces at Port Talbot, Welsh Economy Minister Vaughan Gething told Radio 4’s Today Programme that “Whilst change is required, this is … about jobs ...about steel being a sovereign asset …about whether this really will reduce emissions if you’ve still got to have blast furnace steel produced in another part of the world…my worry is that we could have a plan today that transfers Welsh workers’ jobs and Welsh emissions to another part of the world…[UK Government] need to recognise that if Levelling Up ever meant anything, it surely cannot mean the loss of 2,500 direct well paid jobs, many more within the wider economy.”