Farm advances reach 90% of SFS claimants, with balances still to follow
Nine in ten Welsh farms claiming the Sustainable Farming Scheme’s Universal Layer have received an advance payment, the Welsh Government says. Payments have also reached 94% of farms claiming through the Basic Payment Scheme. Figures published for 14 October put SFS Universal Layer advances at £117.3m and BPS advances at £35.5m. The two percentages describe separate groups of claimants and do not mean that every farmer has received a full annual payment.
Farm advances: figures for 14 October 2026
- SFS Universal Layer claimants paid
- 90%
- SFS advances paid
- £117.3m
- BPS claimants paid
- 94%
- BPS advances paid
- £35.5m
More of the expected payment arrives early
The advance rate for both schemes was increased this year from 70% to 80% of the expected claim value. Ministers say the change was intended to ease cash-flow pressure after the summer’s dry weather. That advance rate is different from the percentage of farms paid: an eligible farm receiving its advance gets an earlier share of its expected payment, with the balance still to follow. Remaining advances will continue as claims are checked and confirmed.
What claimants need to check
Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability Llyr Gruffydd urged farmers to look at RPW Online for outstanding queries which could hold up an advance. SFS Universal Layer claimants must update their SFS Universal Dashboard on RPW Online to receive a balance payment. Full and remaining balances will follow once claims have been fully checked, starting from mid-December. The government expects all but the most complex claims to be paid before the end of March 2027. That is its stated expectation, rather than a promise about any individual application. The update follows recent support measures including an extended slurry-spreading period, flexibility on some crop and habitat requirements, and climate-adaptation grants for equipment such as boreholes and water harvesting systems.
Background and supporting figures
Where this sits
The advance share of estimated claim rose from 70% to 80% this year for both schemes.
SFS claimant coverage is 90%, compared with BPS coverage of 94%; these are separate schemes and separate denominators, not a performance ranking.
Remaining advances continue after validation; balance payments start mid-December after full checks; all but most complex claims expected before end March 2027.
Llyr Gruffydd asks claimants to answer RPW Online queries; SFS claimants must update their Universal Dashboard for balances.