Welsh Government

There is growing frustration amongst industry, but the Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths insisted the Sustainable Farming Scheme would not undermine food security and that she was ‘listening'

CLA Cymru director, Victoria Bond said: "This is damning evidence, but it only proves what we already know - rural communities feel ignored

Farmers' Union of Wales said the Welsh Government's proposed SFS would bring direct farm payments to an end completely, while introducing a 'mountain of costly restrictions and requirements'

30 farmers blocked the roads outside Lesley Griffith's office in Wrexham to share their frustration with Wales' current farming policies

With one month left in the final consultation period for the Sustainable Farming Scheme, chief reporter Rachael Brown spoke to farmers in Wales about their concerns on the direction of Welsh Government policy

Farmers said rural budget cuts, increased taxes and production costs, the emotional and financial impact TB had placed on business, alongside proposals to take agricultural land out of production for tree planting had taken its ‘toll' on the emotional and financial well-being of farmers

NFU Cymru said the projections from Welsh Government's latest SFS impact assessment predicted a 'shocking scenario' for Welsh farming

NFU Cymru deputy president Abi Reader questioned where the ‘800' figure for the amount of farms targeted for inspection had come from and what evidence it was based on, adding she hoped it was not a ‘witch hunt'

The support payments will be available to all fully-certified organic farmers, not just those who were part of the previous Glastir Organic Scheme. Applications for payments must be submitted by May 15 2024

It is after comments made by Senedd members, including Joyce Watson MS suggesting farmers with perpetual bovine TB should ‘find another business' and Mike Hedge's MS saying 'there was no reason to subsidise agriculture'