The First Minister was giving his final scheduled press conference before stepping down next month.
Mark Drakeford has informed farmers that “change is unavoidable” amid an ongoing dispute between them and the Welsh Government. Farmers from across Wales have been actively campaigning regarding the sustainable farming scheme, slated to be implemented in 2025, which will replace the subsidies received during Wales’ membership in the EU.
The scheme aims to incentivise farmers for sustainable food production and environmentally friendly practices. Under the new scheme, farmers will only be eligible for payments if 10% of their land is designated for tree planting and 10% is managed as wildlife habitat.
Unions have expressed concerns that the new subsidy scheme is impractical, fearing it will diminish food production. The Welsh Government is currently conducting a third and final consultation on the scheme, which will conclude next month. The government has assured stakeholders that the proposals remain open to revision, emphasizing their commitment to carefully consider all perspectives before finalizing the decision.
When asked about the path forward, the First Minister mentioned that the farming minister would meet with representatives from two farming unions on February 19. He noted that the scheme has undergone significant changes in its previous iterations and expressed confidence that the upcoming version would differ from the current one.
“I understand that this is a challenging time for rural communities in Wales. People feel that their way of life is being threatened by ongoing changes. Change is inevitable; our focus should be on collaborating to pave a way forward. We are fully committed to continuing to invest in farming communities and rural Wales, but this investment must yield returns for the public,” said Drakeford.
He added, “Sustainable food production remains our top priority. While there are genuine opportunities for farming in Wales, they will require adaptation. The process of change is daunting, but the only way forward is through dialogue and collective effort.”
“In farming, we’re not demanding that people give up 20%; instead, we’re offering to compensate farmers for using that portion of their land differently in the future, should they choose to do so. What the public is offering is a shift in payment structure to incentivise farmers to address the climate crisis,” Drakeford explained.