The Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme (SALS), launched by Welsh Government 12 March and delivered by the Development Bank of Wales, will give farmers access to investment to support energy efficiency, productivity improvements and slurry and nutrient storage.
Welsh Government said £5m will be available during the 2026/2027 financial year.
NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “NFU Cymru very much welcomes today’s SALS announcement. Access to finance to undertake productivity and efficiency improvements is often cited as a barrier to undertaking investment on farm.
This is particularly true for young farmers, new entrants and those who do not own the land they farm.
In 2023, NFU Cymru’s Next Generation Development Group launched the union’s Framing the future for the next generation report, where one of the key recommendations was for Welsh Government to implement provisions for farmers struggling to access finance to support investment in sustainable food production and to help reduce carbon emissions.
We are therefore pleased that the new loan scheme launched by Welsh Government today and delivered by the Development Bank for Rural Wales seeks to do just that."
“The union is also encouraged that the Deputy First Minister has already confirmed that the SALS scheme will be complementary to existing Welsh Government grant schemes and the Sustainable Farming Scheme. NFU Cymru will be studying the information being published by the Development Bank for Rural Wales to see how this will work in practice.”
Abi Reader, NFU Cymru President
