More than 10,000 farmers across England have now applied for the improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) since it opened in September, Defra has announced.
The scheme, which has been developed with feedback from farmers, is proving popular, with one-in-eight eligible farmers having now submitted an application. This is on top of the 32,000 Countryside Stewardship agreements which are already in place.
SFI, which pays farmers for taking actions that support food production, farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing environment, has attracted applications from farmers in every part of the country, with every type and size of farm business represented.
Farmers have taken up actions through the scheme to deliver tangible environmental benefits alongside food production. As of January, 174,000 hectares of arable land is now being managed without insecticides, 71,000 hectares of low input grassland is focused on improving sustainability, and almost 15,000km of hedgerows are under management.
It comes as Defra also announces the winners of the ‘On farm Environmental Resilience’ competition, with projects awarded a share of £12.2 million funding to solve long-term challenges to plants, crops and farmed animals.
SFI has been expanded and improved based on farmers’ feedback, with a straightforward application process, greater flexibility for farmers to choose the actions that work for them, and the ability to be in SFI at the same time as Countryside Stewardship as long as the actions are compatible.
Farmers are encouraged to apply for an SFI agreement now and choose from the 23 actions already on offer, rather than delay until summer when the scheme will be expanded further. This is to ensure they can benefit from funding available now, and can then add actions to their agreements annually – or have multiple agreements – if they’d like to carry out further actions.
Defra and RPA colleagues will be on stands at agricultural shows throughout England with more information, and there are also six regional events planned in the Southwest, West Midlands and North East to raise awareness of schemes, especially amongst livestock and mixed sectors.
Further support on offer for farmers applying or considering applying for the scheme, includes:
- Planned joint webinars with trusted networks including Catchment Sensitive Farming advisors, FAS, Barclays Bank, Waitrose.
- Defra attendance at NFU conference
- Ongoing monthly engagement with top 30 stakeholders through forums and bilaterals
Farmers and smallholders can find out more about upcoming webinars and Defra regional events by visiting the Farming blog. Farmers can also access free business advice through the Farming Resilience Fund, or speak to the RPA through their Rural Payment Service helpline – 03000 200 301
Smallholders
Smallholders, please note that to be eligible to claim payment under the Basic Payment Scheme a claimant must have at least 5 ha of eligible agricultural land and hold enough entitlements to match their eligible agricultural land. If you are claiming BPA you should be eligible for the SFI. It is worth checking with you RPA as many smallholders miss out, thinking they are too small to claim and many of these projects are ones that smallholders will want to be doing, if they are not already doing them.
