FARMERS at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair welcomed the news that almost 90% of farmers’ Basic Payment Scheme claims will be paid when the new payments window opens on Thursday (December 1).

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, confirmed that £173m will be paid into the bank accounts of 13,176 Welsh farmers on the first day of the payment window.

Welcoming the news, the Cabinet Secretary said: “I am delighted to announce Wales has returned to its usual excellent performance, with almost 90% of farmers receiving their BPS payments on the first day.

“This exceptional performance has been helped by our move to online only applications, which has reduced bureaucracy, allowing applications to be processed quickly and efficiently. We are the only home nation to provide a 100% digital approach to these applications.

“Our leading payment performance has also been greatly aided from working with the farming unions and agents who have offered assistance to many farmers in making their applications. I am grateful to them, and to Welsh farmers who have embraced RPW Online and made the new system such a success.”

The Winter Fair was another opportunity for the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the implications of the UK’s decision to leave the EU with the industry and reassure farmers about future BPS payments.

The Cabinet Secretary added: “There will of course be concerns around the future of BPS and similar schemes as a result of the EU referendum decision. While we remain a member of the EU this scheme will continue. We have also received assurances from the Treasury that BPS will be fully funded until 2020.”

Stephen James, NFU Cymru president said: “Today’s announcement that 90% of claims will be paid on the first day of the payment window is good news and will help farm businesses following a year when cash flow has been a major concern across all sectors.

“A return to making full payments, rather than part payments as was the case last year, alongside an improved exchange rate, up 16.5% on the 2015 rate, will be a boost not just for farmers but the thousands of rural businesses that rely heavily on farmers for much of their income."

FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “The Welsh Government has hit a high payment target and we are grateful to all the staff who have worked hard to ensure money can be released on the first day of the payment window.

“Last year our farmers faced a considerable delay in receiving the BPS due to the extremely complicated process of completing the Single Application Forms, so we are grateful that these problems have been resolved in most cases."