Welsh farmers will be able to apply for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) for the first time as the Single Application Form (SAF) opens today, March, 2, according to the Welsh government.
The SAF window will run from March 2 to May 15, 2026. Through this, farmers can notify the Welsh government whether they are claiming SFS or the Basic Payment Scheme.
Farmers who are considering to join the SFS are strongly encouraged by the government to start their application early, which will allow time to resolve any queries before the deadline.
The government said if field data needs updating, such as correcting land boundaries, farmers must do this through the Manage My Land process before submitting their SAF.
Farmers are recommended to familiarise themselves with the universal actions that apply to their business.
Many are already carrying out relevant actions, including soil testing, benchmarking, and habitat management.
However, there is a lot of time to complete the universal actions throughout the year, the government said.
Farmers can check habitats and other land features on their SFS map on RPW Online.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “This is a landmark moment for Welsh farming and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this milestone.
“The Sustainable Farming Scheme rewards farmers for the work they do to care for our land and environment while producing food sustainably.”
The deputy first minister encouraged all eligible farmers to start their application early.
Further details of the Optional and Collaborative layers will be published by the end of March 2026, applications for which will not open until later in the year.
