‘Shattering blow’ to farmers over pause to environmental payment scheme

A “shattering blow” has been dealt to farmers with the sudden pausing for new applications for environmental payments, according to the National Farmers’ Union.

The NFU says it was given just 30 minutes notice by the government that applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) were to close on Tuesday.

The post-Brexit scheme, launched in 2022, pays farmers and land managers to take up practices that improve productivity and protect the environment and climate.

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There were more than 100 options for farmers to choose from, including the management of hedgerows, organic farming development and providing habitat for wildlife.

The government says the budget for SFI has now been reached, adding that a “record” 50,000 farm businesses and more than half of all farmed land is now managed under the schemes.

Both Conservatives and Liberal Democrat politicians have criticised the move and the lack of any prior warning.

But NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the decision showed “how little” the Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (Defra) understood the industry.

‘Growing disregard for agriculture within Defra’

“This is another shattering blow to English farms, delivered yet again with no warning, no understanding of the industry and a complete lack of compassion or care,” Mr Bradshaw said.

“Today’s terrible news was delivered with only 30 minutes warning to us before ministers briefed the press, leaving us unable to inform our members.

“There has been no consultation, no communication; there has been a total lack of the ‘partnership and co-design’ Defra loves to talk about. It is another example of the growing disregard for agriculture within the department.”

The government has said “every penny” in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will also be taken forward.

It said details of a new SFI scheme will be announced following the Spending Review.

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The ‘cruellest betrayal so far’

Dan Whitehead

West of England and Wales correspondent

@danwnews

It was only last week that thousands of farmers were protesting outside Downing Street at the inheritance tax policy that’s angered so many in agriculture.

But one group representing farmers said on Tuesday the SFI decision is the “cruellest betrayal so far”.

The scheme was introduced under the Conservatives post-Brexit, to encourage sustainable farming.

It took years to develop – and was seen as world leading in a way of ensuring farming was both productive for the sector and protective of the environment.

Although a new scheme after the spending review is promised, many farmers will be left wondering whether it’ll be as comprehensive.

The National Farmers’ Union was preparing on Wednesday to release a report saying that farming confidence in England and Wales is at its lowest level ever.

It’s described Tuesday’s news as a “bleak irony”.

In a statement, minister for food security and rural affairs Daniel Zeichner said: “This government is proud to have set the biggest budget for sustainable food produce in history, to boost growth in rural communities and all across the UK, under our plan for change.

“More farmers are now in schemes and more money is being spent through them than ever before. That is true today and will remain true tomorrow. 

“We have now successfully allocated the SFI24 budget as promised.”

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The government claims the last administration left the scheme uncapped – and they had to put a limit on to stop it running over budget.

‘Absolutely bonkers’

Olly Harrison, an arable farmer on Merseyside who organised the latest farming protest in London earlier this month, said the decision showed farmers were being “attacked from every single angle”.

“It’s just absolutely bonkers. The scheme worked. It was to replace what we had when we were in Europe [the EU] and a lot of farms embraced it, they were doing real good with it.”

“Why have we got people who don’t understand and don’t understand the environment in power?”

Edward Morello, the Liberal Democrat MP for West Dorset, told Sky News the decision will “alarm farmers across the UK” – and called for the government to “start listening and responding” to the agricultural community.

Tim Farron, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said the decision was made with “no warning”.

Conservative shadow farming minister Robbie Moore said the change was “absolutely scandalous”.