Meetings

Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.

Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.

Meeting: 24/09/2025 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 4)

4 Sustainable Farming Scheme

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 30/04/2025 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 3)

3 Follow-up to the committee meeting held on 5 February 2025 - Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 06/03/2025 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 2)

2 Follow-up to the Committee meeting held on 5 February 2025

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 05/02/2025 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 3)

3 Sustainable Farming Scheme: Ministerial Scrutiny Session

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government

Gian Marco Currado, Director - Rural Affairs, Welsh Government

Mark Alexander, Deputy Director - Land Management Reform Unit, Welsh Government

Naomi Matthiessen, Deputy Director - Landscapes, Nature and Forestry, Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1    The Committee heard evidence from Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government, on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.


Meeting: 20/11/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 2)

2 Sustainable Farming Scheme – feedback from stakeholders at the Royal Welsh Show

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 20/11/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 6)

6 Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 23/10/2024 - Plenary (Item 6)

Joint debate on Committee reports - The Sustainable Farming Scheme and Farming Connect

NDM8702 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd notes:

1. The report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme which was laid in the Table Office on 22 July 2024, and to which the Welsh Government laid its response on 16 October 2024;

2. The report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on Farming Connect which was laid in the Table Office on 27 June 2024, and to which the Welsh Government laid its response on 16 October 2024; and

3. The report of the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee on Proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme which was laid in the Table Office on 22 July 2024, and to which the Welsh Government laid its response on 11 September 2024.

Co-submitters

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

Minutes:

The item started at 17.01

NDM8702 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd notes:

1. The report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme which was laid in the Table Office on 22 July 2024, and to which the Welsh Government laid its response on 16 October 2024;

2. The report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on Farming Connect which was laid in the Table Office on 27 June 2024, and to which the Welsh Government laid its response on 16 October 2024; and

3. The report of the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee on Proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme which was laid in the Table Office on 22 July 2024, and to which the Welsh Government laid its response on 11 September 2024.

Co-submitters

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.


Meeting: 03/10/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 5)

5 Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 18/09/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)

4 Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 18/09/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 2)

2 Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report: Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 18/09/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 2)

2 Sustainable Farming Scheme – feedback from stakeholders at the Royal Welsh Show

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 18/07/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 1)

1 Consideration of draft report on proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

1.1 Members agreed the draft report subject to a few minor amendments.


Meeting: 13/06/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 2)

2 Sustainable Farming Scheme

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 13/06/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 6)

Inquiry: Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government

Claire Bennett, Director, Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change, Welsh Government

Gian Marco Currado, Director, Rural Affairs, Welsh Government

Richard Irvine, Chief Veterinary Officer, Welsh Government

Minutes:

6.1     The Committee heard evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.


Meeting: 09/05/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 5)

5 Sustainable Farming Scheme - External views

James Richardson, Interim Chief Executive, UK Climate Change Committee

Professor Janet Dwyer, Gloucestershire University

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1     The Committee heard evidence from the panel on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.


Meeting: 09/05/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 4)

4 Sustainable Farming Scheme - Environmental organisations

Alex Phillips, WWF Cymru Policy and Advocacy Manager, Wales Environment Link

Andrew Tuddenham, Head of Policy, Wales, Soil Association Cymru, Wales Organic Forum

Rhys Evans, Wales Manager, Nature Friendly Farming Network

Rhys Owen, Head of Conservation, Woodland and Agriculture, Eryri National Park Authority, Tirweddau Cymru Landscapes Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1     The Committee heard evidence from the panel on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.


Meeting: 09/05/2024 - Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee (Item 3)

3 Sustainable Farming Scheme - Farming Unions

Gareth Parry, Head of Policy, Farmers’ Union of Wales

Aled Jones, President, National Farmers’ Union Cymru

Dennis Matheson, Chair, Tenant Farmers Association

Dominic Hampson-Smith, Rural Affairs Vice Chairman, Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (YFC)

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1     The Committee heard evidence from the panel on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.


Meeting: 21/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 5)

5 Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

Supporting documents:


Meeting: 21/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 4)

4 Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) - evidence session with academics

Dr Ludivine Petetin, School of Law and Politics -  Cardiff University

Professor Iain Donnison, Head of Department - Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS)

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee received evidence from academics.

 


Meeting: 21/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)

3 Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) - evidence session with environmental organisations

Rhys Evans, Wales Manager, Sustainable Farming Lead - Nature Friendly Farming Network

Arfon Williams, Head of Land and Sea Policy - RSPB Cymru

Andrew Tuddenham, Head of Policy Wales – Soil Association

Alex Phillips, Policy & Advocacy Manager - WWF Cymru

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee received evidence from environmental organisations.

 


Meeting: 21/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 2)

2 Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) - evidence session with farming representatives

Aled Jones, President - National Farmers Union (NFU) Cymru

Rachel Lewis-Davies, National Environment and Land Use Adviser - National Farmers Union (NFU) Cymru

Gareth Parry, Deputy Head of Policy - Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW)

Elin Jenkins, Policy Officer - Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW)

George Dunn, Chief Executive - Tenant Farmers Association

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee received evidence from farming representatives.


Meeting: 13/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 1)

1 The Committee will host a stakeholder event to inform its work on the Welsh Government's proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

1.1 Members took part in the stakeholder event and facilitated discussions on how the Welsh Government’s proposals for a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) proposals will work for farmers and the environment.


Meeting: 06/03/2024 - Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (Item 3)

3 Forward Work Programme: Consideration of approach to work on proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee discussed and agreed its Forward Work Programme.