Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
I wish to update Members of the Senedd on this year’s Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments ahead of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) commencing in 2026.
More than 95% of claimants have received their full or balance BPS 2025 payment today. Over 15,400 Welsh farm businesses have received payments worth £68.7m, in addition to £160m paid as BPS advance payments since 14 October.
My officials will continue to process the outstanding BPS 2025 claims as soon as possible and I expect all but the most complex cases to be completed by 30 June 2026.
BPS 2025 is the final year of full BPS payments. In July I announced that BPS would be phased out from 2026 onwards as we launch and roll out the new Sustainable Farming Scheme next year.
As I’ve always said, this government is steadfastly committed to supporting Welsh farmers to sustainably produce quality food. This is demonstrated today in our payment of the BPS 2025 balance payments and will continue throughout the transition period as we introduce the Sustainable Farming Scheme on 1 January 2026.