Defra has reopened the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2024 scheme to approximately 3,000 farmers, following a legal challenge prompted by the UK government’s closure of the scheme.
The group of farmers, backed by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), argued that Defra had previously committed to providing six weeks’ notice before closing the scheme.
On 11 March, Defra announced that it was to ‘stop accepting new applications for SFI from today’, following what it said was the successful allocation of the sustainable farming budget.
The latest reopening applies specifically to those who began, but did not submit, their applications within two months leading up to 11 March. Other applicants will not be accommodated.
‘Unacceptable decision’
“The government’s abrupt and wholly unacceptable decision to close the scheme was always wrong,” NFU President Tom Bradshaw commented. “While it’s good to see an acknowledgement that the decision to close the scheme was flawed, we are disappointed by the constraints imposed which will still leave many farmers unfairly disadvantaged.
“This is a really critical time for the farming industry, and while today’s announcement falls short of what our members deserve, this issue highlights the NFU at its very best, working with its members to stand up for what we believe is right.”
Six-week window
Eligible applicants will be given a six-week window to complete their applications, with each farm business able to submit one application only, while agreements are offered up to a maximum annual value of £9,300, not including the SFI management payment.
Furthermore, participating farmers will not be able to expand the area of land under rotational SFI actions beyond the first year of their agreement.
In a written statement, Daniel Zeichner, UK Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, added, ‘Given that the budget for the SFI 2024 scheme has been fully allocated, any further agreements entered into under the SFI 2024 scheme will need to be funded from other areas of Defra’s departmental budget. I have therefore borne in mind the need to avoid creating unfairness to others or undermining other important objectives by unreasonably diverting funds from the wider farming and countryside programme.’ Read more here and here.
