Organic management and conversion – Wales
Funding for organic in Wales
Farmers can get support to convert to organic with the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
The window for applications for organic conversion support is open now until Friday 12 September.
Key information:
Details on the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS)
For the first time since 2022, Welsh farmers can access financial support to convert to organic farming through the Welsh Government’s SFS. Applications can be made online now via the government website. The window will close Friday 12 September.
The SFS has three layers of support:
Universal Layer
All farmers will be eligible, with a greater focus on sustainable land management practices. Farmers choosing to move from BPS into the SFS Universal Layer will need to carry out 12 actions ranging from soil health planning and habitat maintenance, to online courses to enhance knowledge and skills related to sustainable farming. The Universal Layer payment will also reflect the total area of habitats and tree cover on farm.
The Welsh Government has also launched an online calculator to help farmers understand the Universal Layer payment available for their farm.
Optional Layer
Organic conversion is one of several support options as part of this layer. These cover specific actions for habitat restoration – but farmers will also need enter the Universal Layer of the SFS when it opens next year.
Collaborative Layer (upcoming)
More details are expected later this year.
This is intended to support farmers working together on landscape-scale projects and community food initiatives, which can include organic-focused collaborations.
The financial benefits of organic farming
The UK organic market has seen 13 years of consecutive growth. With funding available for organic production, there are opportunities for farmers to certify and convert to organic.
We recommend organic farmers to consider their routes-to-market when planning to convert their farm to organic.
As part of their applications, farmers will need to show they are working with an independent organic control body, such as Soil Association Certification, to plan their conversion.
Financial Support for organic conversion
Organic Control Body certification costs
A contribution towards certification costs of £500 per year for the two-year conversion period will be provided however applicants who already have organic certification but are applying to bring additional land into organic production will not be eligible for the £500 certification costs contribution.
Organic conversion rates (per hectare):
Horticulture. Land used for horticultural production in 2025, with horticultural crops to be sold. Fodder crops not eligible. £640/ha
Enclosed land with rotational crops/ temporary grassland. Land within a rotation, such as arable land, grassland within an arable rotation, temporary grassland: £250/ha
Enclosed land with permanent crops/ grassland. Land not within a crop rotation / permanent crops. Permanent grassland, established over 5 years: £130/ha
Enclosed land with permanent and temporary grassland with a dairy enterprise. Land can be grassland within a crop rotation, permanent grassland or temporary grassland. This payment rate will only apply to land which supports a dairy enterprise. (Dairy animals and dairy youngstock): £430/ha
Land above the upper limit of enclosure: £18/ha
Whilst there is no upper limit to the area of land that can be submitted for the Organic Conversion Scheme, the maximum payment will be tapered after the first 200ha of eligible land.
Application process for organic conversion
- Submit an expression of interest via Rural Payments Wales Online by 12th September 2025.
- Following closure of the Expression of Interest window a selection process will be completed. If you are selected, a grant award offer will be made to you via your RPW Online account.
If your application is successfully selected and you accept the grant award, you will be required to submit a copy of your Organic Certification Body application and organic conversion plan prepared as part of the application, if applicable.
Organic support payment rates (per hectare)
Support continues to be available on all land certified as fully organic under the following categories:
Horticulture. Land used for horticultural production, with horticultural crops to be sold. Fodder crops not eligible: £300/ha
Enclosed land. Grassland and arable fields. Predominantly productive grassland: £45/ha
Enclosed land with a dairy enterprise. Predominantly grassland, both permanent and within rotation. Applicable only to land which supports a dairy enterprise. Established by allocating land according to dairy livestock stocking density (1.3LU/ha). Dairy youngstock and dairy sheep and goats included: £115/ha
Land above the upper limit of enclosure. Land above the upper limit of enclosure is defined as land above the agricultural enclosure and is characterised by its open nature and has received limited agricultural improvement. (As identified on Data Map Wales). Includes common land used for grazing with sole registered grazier, field parcels with 50% or cover of grazed blanket bog, coastal heath, lowland heath and saltmarsh and predominately extensive upland livestock systems with low stocking densities: £9/ha
There is no upper limit to the area of land that can be submitted for Organic Support 2024. The maximum payment will be tapered after the first 200ha of eligible land.
Certification costs for maintaining organic certification after the conversion period are not supported.
Payment rates are intended to support the sectors where Welsh Government believe organic farming will make the biggest positive impact on the environment.
Find out more about payment rates on the Welsh government website.
Full guidance will be published within the Single Application Form (SAF) 2025 rules booklet.