Welsh Conservatives launch alternative to Welsh Labour's proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme:
Welsh Labour's proposals to replace farming subsidies after Brexit have given us many different iterations these past 7 years, from Brexit our Land, to the latest proposal Sustainable Farming Scheme: Keep Farmers Farming. It is clear from the demonstrations and protests that their latest offering is not acceptable by huge numbers of farmers in Wales. An impact assessment report predicted massive job losses and a hit to the Welsh economy. A major stumbling block in these SFS proposals is the requirement for 10% trees and a further 10% as habitat. This on top of an income foregone, costs incurred model, will mean many farming businesses unable to survive, making us more reliant on foreign imports and clocking up air miles in transport.
James Evans MS and the Welsh Conservatives have launched their alternative vision to the SFS at this year's Royal Welsh Show - The Welsh Farming & Countryside Scheme. The WFCS offers a more flexible approach, with a proposed baseline payment of 70% of BPS to give stability and security to farms to invest in the future, ensure food security and that Wales continues to produce food to the highest of quality and environmental standards. James is also calling for Farmers to be rewarded for climate change mitigation measures through utilising the Climate Change budget.
James would welcome your views on his alternative proposal. Link here: https://www.conservatives.wales/WFCS
There are many challenges facing the agricultural sector. Following calls from the Welsh Conservatives, in August 2024 Welsh Labour Government have announced changes to the composition of the Board looking at bovine TB solutions. It is welcome news that Farmers are now at the heart of these conversations. There is clearly a change in attitudes with the appointment of Huw Irranca-Davies MS as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs. Changes in recent months include no longer slaughtering pregnant cows on farm and the Agricultural Wages Order. But the future of Welsh Farming remains very precarious if the proposed SFS scheme goes ahead. We must protect our agricultural sector, our culture and welsh language. We must recognise the value Welsh farms play in shaping our landscape and undertaking environmental actions to mitigate climate change. Many see agriculture as the problem with climate change but the reality is, that is the solution. We must take farmers with us on any environmental schemes if they are to have any chance of success.
