The Welsh Labour Government’s economic impact assessment to their Sustainable Farming Scheme, published on 30 September 2025, will result in an estimated:
- 56,000 Welsh livestock numbers lost.
- 1,163 jobs on Welsh farms lost.
- £76.3 million lost in farm business income.
This is on top of the huge pressures already facing farmers up and down Wales, including rising costs, Labour’s family farm tax, and the threat of overbearing red tape.
The Welsh Conservatives have brought forward a Senedd debate calling on the Welsh Labour Government to scrap the current Sustainable Farming Scheme, and replace it with a scheme that works for farmers, placing food security and production at its core.
Commenting ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said:
“Farmers are already under huge pressure from rising costs, Labour’s family farm tax, and the threat of overbearing red tape. The last thing they need is a scheme that makes it even harder for them to farm, produce food and make a living.
"The Welsh Conservatives are clear; the Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme does not work for farmers. It must be replaced with a scheme that has food security and production at its core.
"That's why we're putting this to a Senedd vote."
The motion which will be debated on Wednesday reads:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Regrets that the Welsh Government’s economic impact assessment to the Sustainable Farming Scheme published on 30 September 2025 will result in an estimated:
a) 56,000 Welsh livestock numbers lost;
b) 1,163 jobs on Welsh farms lost; and
c) £76.3 million lost in farm business income.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to scrap and replace the current Sustainable Farming Scheme with a scheme that works for farmers, placing food security and production at its core.
