THE ROYAL WELSH Agricultural Society (RWAS) and the National Sheep Association (NSA) are collaborating to launch a new Welsh Sheep Village at this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Located on the site of the former NSA Pavilion, the village will celebrate the Welsh sheep industry’s importance. Including trade stands and educational activities, it’s designed to showcase innovation and good practice to farmers, whilst helping the wider public understanding of sheep farming and the vital role it plays in shaping our landscape and heritage.

Called Cynefin – Welsh for “habitat” or “place of belonging” – the village will reflect the deep connection between land, sheep farming, and community in Wales.

RWAS chief executive, Aled Rhys Jones, said: “Sheep farming and the generations of farmers who have worked the land have shaped our Welsh landscape. We are delighted to be working closely with the NSA to introduce this exciting new concept which celebrates our rich farming history.

“The sheep section already covers almost four acres of our showground, so it’s evidently a major part of the Royal Welsh Show. We host one of the largest and most diverse collection of sheep breeds of any show in the world and have world-class shearing and wool handling competitions.

“The new Sheep Village, alongside the Meirion Shearing Centre, the exhibition halls and the sheep ring, will further elevate the industry’s status.”

Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive, added:“Cynefin, the sheep village, is a new concept that gives NSA and RWAS an opportunity to introduce a fresh approach on how we profile sheep farming at the Royal Welsh Show. 

“One of the most valuable things we can do for the industry is to play our part in explaining and showcasing sheep farming to the public and celebrate the great innovation and technology that we use. 

“We have a great industry which is far more progressive than many realise and our approach to producing food and fibre works well alongside managing our landscape, providing for nature and maintaining rural communities and economies. 

“If we can do more to showcase this, then our new partnership venture at the Royal Welsh Show will be worthwhile.”

The popular NSA Bar and Restaurant will also form part of the new village, together with a new open air courtyard offering a welcoming space for farmers and showgoers to meet and relax.

SCHEME DETAILS MISSING, SAYS PEMBROKESHIRE MS

FARMERS across Wales are facing continued uncertainty after the Welsh Government confirmed that full details of two key elements of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) will not be available when the application window opens on Monday (Mar 2).

Officials have acknowledged that further information on the Optional and Collaborative actions — two of the scheme’s core layers — will be published “in due course”, with applications for many of these measures not expected to open until later this year.

While some actions, including organic maintenance and woodland creation, will proceed independently of SFS participation, significant parts of the scheme remain incomplete as farmers are being asked to begin the application process.

The situation has prompted concern within the sector, with farm businesses warning that uncertainty over the scheme’s full scope makes forward planning difficult at a time when margins are already under pressure.

Commenting on the launch, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS said: “It is unacceptable that, as the Sustainable Farming Scheme application window opens, two of its core components — Optional and Collaborative — are still not fully designed. After years of consultation, farmers are being asked to commit to a scheme where significant elements remain undefined or delayed until later in the year.

“Farm businesses cannot plan on the basis of ‘further detail in due course’. Decisions about land use, investment and cashflow require clarity from day one. This last-minute uncertainty reflects a clear lack of foresight from the Welsh Labour Government.

“Farmers were promised stability and certainty. Instead, they are being given ambiguity and a rolling timetable. That is not good enough for an industry that needs confidence, not confusion.”

The Sustainable Farming Scheme is intended to replace the EU-era Basic Payment Scheme and form the backbone of agricultural support in Wales, linking public funding to environmental and land management outcomes.

The Welsh Government has been approached for comment.

Charity urges shoppers to support Welsh farmers this St David’s Day

MORE than 2.6 million farmed animals in Wales benefited from higher welfare standards last year, thanks to the work of farmers signed up to the RSPCA Assured scheme, the charity has said.

The organisation is now encouraging shoppers to mark St David’s Day by supporting Welsh producers committed to improved animal welfare by choosing products carrying the RSPCA Assured label.

RSPCA Assured — which describes itself as the only UK food assurance scheme dedicated solely to farmed animal welfare — has nearly 280 members in Wales. All are required to follow strict welfare standards covering housing, diet, health and day-to-day care.

Charlotte Thomas, RSPCA Assured assessment manager for Wales, said: “St David’s Day is a chance for us to take pride in the dedication of RSPCA Assured members who are committed to giving farmed animals a better life.

“To become an RSPCA Assured member, farms must follow hundreds of higher welfare standards every single day. These ensure animals are cared for properly throughout their lives — we don’t allow cages or crates, and animals must have plenty of room to move, perform normal behaviours and enjoy a healthy diet.

“Members are assessed every year to make sure these higher standards are met, and we carry out a check on a farm in Wales nearly every working day of the year.

“We hope this St David’s Day will inspire more people to support higher welfare farming in Wales by looking for the RSPCA Assured label if they choose to buy meat, fish, eggs or dairy products.”

The charity said its standards cover more than 64 million animals across the UK, with independent assessments carried out at over 4,000 farms and businesses. Both indoor and outdoor systems — including free-range and organic — can qualify, provided the welfare requirements are met. The scheme does not permit the use of cages.

RSPCA Assured operates as a not-for-profit organisation and receives no government funding. Member farms and businesses pay fees which cover the cost of inspections and licensing the label, with income reinvested into improving farm animal welfare.

Consumers who wish to support higher welfare farming are being encouraged to look for the RSPCA Assured logo when buying meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.

More information is available at the RSPCA Assured website.