Clwyd West MS Darren has expressed concern about the lack of clarity in the Welsh Government's new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) announcement.

Despite calls for an overhaul of the scheme by the farming community in 2023, the updated scheme still leaves the farming community concerned.

The scheme is still being developed and is not expected to be finalised until the autumn, despite it being expected to go live on 1st January 2026.

Farmers believe they won’t have time to plan for the changes.

The removal of stiles on footpaths could open up farms to the risk of damage from illegal scramble biking, causing additional issues to farmers on top of other worries the scheme is causing for farmers.

The Welsh Government has slashed the Basic Payment Scheme by 40% despite promising it would only be cut by 20% in the first year. This is worrying for farmers who are apprehensive about joining the new scheme.

Darren, who earlier this week met with farmers at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show to discuss their concerns about the scheme, said:

“It is unacceptable that farmers in Conwy and Denbighshire, and elsewhere in Wales, are continuing to face such uncertainty.

“Despite the Welsh Labour Government promising this scheme would benefit our farmers, they are now rushing through potentially lifechanging alterations.

“I am concerned about where the funding is going to come from on the tree planting scheme, potentially leaving farmers out of pocket for a policy which caused outrage 18 months ago.

“As I told farmers I spoke to at the Royal Welsh Show this week, as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, I, along with my colleagues, will continue to stick up for the farming community and champion rural Wales.”