Importance of Welsh agriculture

The Countryside Alliance exists to represent and advocate on behalf of rural 
communities. In responding to the Welsh Government consultation on the 
Sustainable Farming Scheme we sought to outline the key rural concerns with the 
policy direction. 

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Welsh Government modelling found that the impact of the Scheme on Welsh 
agriculture could mean the loss of £125 million in farm income, 122,000 head of 
livestock and about 5,500 jobs. 

Agricultural support represents only 2% of the Welsh Government’s budget, yet a 
YouGov poll conducted for NFU Cymru in November 2023 found that 82% support 
the Welsh Government providing financial support to farmers to produce food. 

Using the skills and experience of farmers is often the best way to improve 
biodiversity and secure the future of our vital natural resources. If farming in upland, 
and other marginal areas, were to be abandoned because of changes to support 
payments, there would be detrimental effects on the habitat in these areas and the 
species they support. 

The interests of a globally responsible Wales, which the Well-being of Future 
Generations Act 2015 obliges public bodies to pursue, would be better served by 
seeking to increase, not reduce, the number of livestock reared in Wales to its worldleading environmental and welfare standards. 

The proposed scheme was not received favourably by the farming sector and so the 
Welsh Government announced that the scheme’s implementation would be delayed 
until 2026 to allow time for revision.