NFU Cymru has welcomed the news that more than 96 per centof farmers received an advance payment worth approximately 70 per cent of their Basic Payment Scheme on Monday, October 14.

The announcement, which has seen £157.8m shared with over 15,500 farms, is the fourth consecutive year that Rural Payments Wales (RPW) has made automatic Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) advance payments in October.

NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “I warmly welcome the announcement from the Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, that 70 per cent of BPS advance payments have been made to the vast majority of farmers in Wales today. This support will be a major boost for the cash flow of more than 15,500 Welsh farmers, along with the allied industries who rely on farmers for so much of their income.

“I would like to recognise the work of the staff at RPW for ensuring that this support has been delivered, and to all those who support farming businesses with the completion of the Single Application Form by the May deadline date.

“We welcome the maintenance of the BPS budget for 2024, providing much needed stability and certainty to a sector that has faced a turbulent year. In May we applauded the sensible and pragmatic approach taken by Huw Irranca-Davies MS to maintain the BPS for 2025, the importance of maintaining the BPS budget for 2025 cannot be overemphasised.

“It is important to recognise that the budgets for agriculture remain at levels established a decade ago and, in that time, have not been adjusted for inflation. NFU Cymru believes that Welsh farming now needs a minimum budget of £500 million annually to take account of inflation and to help ensure that our ambitions in relation to food, climate, nature and communities can be met.

“NFU Cymru has consistently highlighted the importance of the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme providing at least the same level of stability to farmers, the supply chain and rural communities as is currently provided by the BPS. We are clear that an extensive and iterative process of economic modelling and impact assessment of the scheme must take place to ensure that is the case prior to its planned introduction from 2026.”

Mr Jones added: “Whilst I am pleased to see this injection of funding into Welsh farming, we must not forget the small percentage of farmers who will not have received an advance payment. I sincerely hope that any outstanding issues can be resolved without delay, so that full and balance payments can be made from December 12.”