From Monday 16 February 2026, the Welsh Government will switch off three old EU agriculture schemes. “These regulations will close three out-of-date EU legacy agricultural schemes in Wales,” Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies told Members as the Senedd approved the change on 10 February. (record.senedd.wales)

The move shuts the Fruit and Vegetable Aid scheme and disapplies EU provisions on Public Intervention and Private Storage Aid in relation to Wales, so they no longer operate here. The Welsh Government says the change is about simplifying support and removing unused, costly mechanisms. (gov.wales)

What does that mean in practice? Under EU rules, governments could prop up markets by buying in product when prices crashed, or by paying for surpluses to be stored. In Wales, those levers haven’t been pulled for decades; officials note no Welsh applications to the fruit and veg scheme since 1996, and no use of Public Intervention or Private Storage Aid since at least 2000. (gov.wales)

Ministers consulted on closing the schemes last summer. Only three responses landed-two backed the closure and a third wasn’t relevant. Respondents pointed to complexity and limited relevance to Welsh horticulture as reasons the fruit and veg support never took off. (gov.wales)

Instead of holding intervention stocks, Welsh Ministers say they will use powers in the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 to pay farmers directly in any future crisis, arguing this is quicker and better value for money. The regulations take effect on 16 February 2026. (gov.wales)

This sits alongside the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), rolling out in 2026, with the Basic Payment Scheme tapering by 40% in 2026 and 20% in both 2027 and 2028. A December Senedd vote cleared the final legal steps to begin the SFS. (gov.wales)

For readers across the North West and the Mersey‑Dee corridor, the day‑to‑day impact is limited: the safety nets being switched off weren’t in use. The difference will show if prices tumble. Rather than taking butter, beef or grain off the market, Welsh Ministers would route crisis money straight to farm accounts-subject to an exceptional‑conditions decision. That’s the approach set out in the Government’s explanatory memorandum. (gov.wales)

Policy is diverging across Britain. In England, ministers plan to prioritise smaller farms for Sustainable Farming Incentive windows from June, while Scotland is moving to a tiered support model from 2025. Cross‑border supply chains should watch for different trigger points and payment timings either side of Offa’s Dyke. (theguardian.com)

Senedd lawyers did flag technical issues in committee-questions over how the text inserts into EU provisions and a few incorrect references-but these were treated as drafting points rather than reasons to halt the regulations. The Government has noted the report. (record.assembly.wales)

For livestock markets from Ruthin to Clitheroe and for dairy processors across Cheshire and North Wales, the message is clarity rather than upheaval. The EU‑era levers are being retired; if a shock hits, help will arrive as cheques, not intervention stock. There’s nothing for farmers to apply for here-the switch‑off happens automatically on Monday.