The two largest farmers’ unions in Wales have said the Welsh Government must listen to the voice of the industry after the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) consultation response was published last week.

The SFS proposals have been the source of widespread concern and anxiety within the farming community in Wales since their publication.

The analysis of the consultation responses pointed to a large number of concerns from the agricultural community including the perceived complexity of the scheme; a desire for there to be a focus on food production; a clear opposition to the woodland requirements of the scheme; and the additional strain and burden the scheme could place on farmers.

NFU Cymru says the responses show the Welsh Government must deliver genuine change to the SFS proposals.

NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “NFU Cymru remains clear the SFS must move beyond a scheme focussed predominately on the delivery of environmental outcomes and instead become a genuine agricultural policy that underpins food production in an increasingly volatile world, ensures our farm businesses are resilient so that our rural communities and our language can thrive, alongside and in harmony with our environmental obligations and ambitions.

“This is the most significant change to agricultural policy in a generation. We are clear that no decisions on the SFS should be undertaken until Welsh Government has undertaken a full socio-economic assessment of the impact of its proposals on Welsh farming, rural communities and the supply chain. The new scheme must deliver the same level of stability to farming, the supply chain and rural Wales as the current support arrangements.”

Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, has said the government intends for the SFS to begin in 2026.

There will be ‘preparatory phase’ in 2025, providing advice and support to farmers in advance of the scheme’s introduction.

In a written statement, Mr Irranca-Davies said he wanted to reiterate that “no decisions on the scheme design have yet been made”.

“We have heard and understood the concerns raised through this consultation process, and it is clear changes need to be made before the scheme is ready to be introduced,” he said.

Mr Irranca-Davies said he knew it has been “an unsettling time” for many farmers and their families.

“We will continue to work at pace to finalise the scheme so that we can provide certainty about future support as soon as possible,” he said.

“By working together, we can ensure a sustainable agriculture industry in Wales for generations to come. “

FUW President Ian Rickman said: “Welsh Government must continue to listen to Welsh farmers as the summary of responses to the latest SFS consultation is published today. The industry’s voice has been loud and clear and it has been a challenging process to get this far for everyone involved.

“It comes as no surprise that the consensus from the mammoth 12,000 farmers and organisations who responded to the consultation calls for significant changes to the scheme proposals.”

Both unions said they remain committed to securing a scheme that works for the farmers in Wales.

The Welsh Conservatives said the consultation results show further opposition to the scheme.

James Evans MS, Shadow Rural Affairs Minister, said: “The consultation results express views that the Labour Government have continuously ignored from the industry.

“Farmers have responded negatively to the overcomplexity of the SFS, they do not want to be forced into environmental targets and feel that their time should be spent on producing food and not jumping through governmental hoops.”

He added that the Welsh Conservatives propose “a streamlined approach, reducing bureaucratic hurdles while prioritising food production alongside environmental sustainability.”