It’s not just in Europe that farmers are protesting (The Guardian view on Europe’s rural revolt: sustainability is in farmers’ interests too, 14 February). Here in Wales, many farmers are up in arms over the recently released details of the Welsh government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme. This will pay farmers for “public goods”, actions that benefit the environment or the public. This includes things such as restoring hay meadows, creating ponds, restoring hedges, planting woodland and reducing fertiliser inputs. This is a big change from the former EU schemes, where farmers were paid so much per hectare, irrespective of how they farmed (there were environmental conditions under this scheme, but they were not monitored and were widely ignored).
As a former farmer in Wales, but also as a committed environmentalist, I fully support the Welsh government proposals, but I can understand the frustration that many farmers feel, having restrictions imposed on them when many are struggling financially. I think it’s time for all farmers to face the fact that they can no longer expect subsidy payments for nothing, and that payments for public goods is a fairer way of supporting them financially.
Greg Nuttgens
Porthcawl, Bridgend
