The lack of consideration of tenant farmers and proper support for new entrants were just some of the key concerns expressed by the Presidential Policy Team of the Farmers’ Union of Wales during a meeting held recently at Builth Wells.
This was the final formal meeting held by the FUW to discuss the initial feedback received from over 1,500 farmers at local county meetings across Wales in recent weeks. It will be used to formulate the Union’s final response to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) consultation.
Speaking after the meeting, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Whilst many of the comments and concerns raised in our local county meetings were discussed at length, Union officials raised some serious concerns around the impracticalities tenant farmers may face when trying to enter the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
“Moves to annualised agreements and exemptions to the 10% tree cover requirements for tenants are of course welcomed. However, a number of other practical limitations for tenants must also be considered, such as the ability to obtain landlords’ permission to create new ponds and habitats or deciding who has management control of historical features or individual trees within hedgerows.
“Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has said many times that if the SFS does not work for the tenanted sector then it does not work at all. All of these practical examples will need to be addressed if all active farmers are to have an equal opportunity to join the scheme,” he said.
FUW Younger Voice for Farming Committee Chair, Gemma Haines said: “It’s clear that the concerns and questions raised during meetings of the Welsh Government’s New Entrants Working Group also seem to have been dismissed here.
“New and young entrants who decide to enter the SFS from next year onwards will have to surrender thousands of pounds worth of entitlements, and those that enter the industry from next year onwards won’t be entitled to claim the stability payment at all.
“The Welsh Government claims to have removed barriers for new and young entrants, but, there remains no commitment to properly support these individuals who are new to the industry with something akin to a meaningful top-up payment.”
FUW Regional Vice President for south Wales, Brian Bowen, also highlighted the lack of detail around the extent in which common land graziers will be supported as the BPS is phased out and the Collaborative Actions are implemented.
For many graziers, the common land proportion of their BPS payment is significant, with most having already faced significant cuts in payments between Glastir Commons and the Habitat Wales Scheme.
“I would like to thank the Presidential Team and Standing Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs for attending this meeting and contributing to such an important discussion at this busy time. The need for every business and individual in rural Wales to respond to the consultation was clearly the take home message,” concluded Ian Rickman.
The closing date for consultation submission on the Sustainable Farming Scheme is Thursday, 7 March. You can respond by clicking on these links:
English: https://www.fuw.org.uk/index.php/en/sfs-consultation
Welsh: https://www.fuw.org.uk/index.php/en/sfs-consultation-cy