Defra says 1,000 applications have already been accepted and received offers
The first farmers to sign up for the latest Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have this week received their first payment, Defra has confirmed.
The early payments, worth 25 per cent of the annual value of farmers' agreements, have been made just a month after the start of applications.
According to Defra, every farmer whose agreement started on October 1, has received the payment which will help to improve cash flow and make sure SFI works for their farm business.
While the schemes opened one month later than expected, the Government said the SFI offer for 2023 has already received record interest from farmers around the country, including those who have had agreements under SFI 2022.
There have been more than 14,000 registrations of interest and almost 1,000 applications submitted offered since the scheme started accepting applications.
Secretary of State for Food and Farming Thérèse Coffey said she was ‘delighted' the numbers of farmers applying for the SFI and encouraged more to ‘get involved'.
"We are engaging with farmers and taking on-board their feedback to continually improve the scheme, including delivering on our commitment to introduce early payments and taking steps to simplify the application process."
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The 2023 offer has been expanded and made more flexible in response to farmer feedback and now farmers can be paid for hedgerows, nutrient management, farmland wildlife and low input grassland.
Farmers are able to choose what combination of actions are right for them - unlike previously where actions were grouped into standards.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: "It has been fantastic to see the enthusiasm with which farmers have embraced the latest SFI offer, and we are supporting them by delivering faster payments than ever before.
See also: Farmers worried about future SFI payments
"SFI has something on offer for every type of farmer, and we will be processing applications as quickly as possible to get more payments into pockets this year and help farmers improve their cash flow".
Defra said from October 20, the majority of farmers will no longer need to submit registrations of interest and will be able to apply directly online, simplifying the application process. Those farming on commons should continue to express their interest with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) who can support them to get ready to apply.
