September 23, 2026 - 158 views
Farmers across Wales are being given more financial support and extra time to manage slurry, following what the Welsh Government describes as exceptionally difficult conditions this summer.
The advance payment available to eligible farms under the Sustainable Farming Scheme and Basic Payment Scheme is increasing from 70 to 80 per cent.
The Welsh Government says the move is designed to ease cash-flow pressures caused by the drought, which has affected grass growth and disrupted normal grazing and cutting patterns.
Farmers and Natural Resources Wales have also raised concerns about higher-than-usual levels of slurry in storage, after the dry weather made it difficult for many farms to spread it in the usual way.
The Welsh Government says legislation will now be introduced to allow slurry and manure spreading to continue until 15 November, giving farmers additional time to safely reduce storage levels before winter.
There will be safeguards to protect water quality, including limits on the amount that can be spread at one time and a minimum gap between applications.
The temporary change applies only to this spreading period, and poultry manure is excluded.
Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability Llyr Gruffydd says farmers have told the government they need certainty, flexibility and support, and that the measures are intended to provide all three.
The changes will affect farms across North Wales, where the summer's prolonged dry conditions have put additional pressure on livestock, grassland and slurry storage.
