Sustainable Farming Scheme 2026 - Cymru/Wales
Sustainable Farming Scheme 2026: scheme description
Describes the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which commences 1 January 2026.
This document includes a description of the Sustainable Farming Scheme which will begin on 1 January 2026. This is not a consultation.
This document lays out the scheme requirements and intended payment rates, so you know what is required if you choose to enter the Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026.
This is the start of a new long-term programme to support the agricultural industry in Wales. The Sustainable Farming Scheme has been designed to support farmers in the ongoing sustainable production of food, at the same time as addressing the climate and nature emergency. This is crucial to protect our future food producing capacity.
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The document provides you with the information you need to prepare for the start of Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026. It has been redesigned following our 2023 consultation, with input from the farming unions and other stakeholders. It has been designed to be accessible to all farmers.
From 2026 you will have the choice to enter the Sustainable Farming Scheme or remain with the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) which will be phased out by 2029.
Detailed scheme guidance will be published later in 2025 including the definitive technical notes setting out all the scheme requirements, scheme actions, and evidence required for the scheme.
The Sustainable Farming Scheme, referred to as the ‘SFS’ or the ‘scheme’ for the remainder of this document, will be Welsh Government’s primary mechanism to support farmers, land management and sustainable food production from 2026 onwards.
The SFS will begin on 1 January 2026 with the application available on the Single Application Form (SAF) via Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online from March until 15 May.
For more details see below....