Responding to the publication of the SFS: Optional and Collaborative Overview earlier this week, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said “the publication provides an overview to farmers of the Optional and Collaborative support that will be available to farmers later in 2026 and into 2027. This is important information as some categories of support will only be available to farmers who have entered the SFS Universal Layer and farmers across Wales are currently deciding whether to enter the SFS in 2026 ahead of the SAF deadline on 15 May.
Continue to evolve
NFU Cymru has long highlighted the need for the Sustainable Farming Scheme to continue to evolve so that it can support a productive, progressive and profitable farming sector in Wales. We have emphasised that where modelling or real-world experience shows anticipated or actual negative impacts, measures - including at the Optional and Collaborative layers of the scheme - must be swiftly put in place to address and head these impacts off.
Today’s publication sets out the first phase with many aspects based on support that government is already providing or have provided previously. The Sustainable Production category is a brand-new method of support which will incentivise the livestock sector to adopt practices to improve productivity and efficiency and we look forward to working with Welsh Government to prioritise its roll out.
NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said, “We await further information including the detailed technical guidance and payment rates of each category which will be made available as the applications open. However, we recognise the level of detail, constraints, administration, costs and bureaucracy attached to the SFS is significant and far greater than anything seen before. The focus has to be on clear communication and making the Optional and Collaborative categories straightforward to apply for.
Sustainable growth
Concluding, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said “NFU Cymru has also consistently called for the next government to commit to a ring-fenced, multi-annual budget to meet our ambitions for the sustainable growth of the sector, underpinning the financial resilience of our family farms and rural communities, alongside and in harmony with our environmental and climate obligations and ambitions. A budget in excess of £500m per annum with the bulk of the funding directed to providing stability and supporting productivity and efficiency gains on farm is needed. NFU Cymru believes that the 70:30 split currently in place between the Universal and Optional and Collaborative layers of the SFS is the correct one and serves a vital role in providing stability to Welsh farming. We call on any future government to preserve, as a minimum, the current 70:30 split.
