sustainable farming incentive

n today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown analyses the results from a Farmers Guardian survey looking at how farmers' mental health has been impacted by the Autumn Budget, Red Tractor promises to implement all 56 recommendations from the farm assurance review and ensure farmers are the 'absolute priority', and the Government's new Food Strategy Advisory Board is criticised for its lack of farmer representation.

It has been rumoured Defra's budget could be on the ‘chopping block' in the Comprehensive Spending Review

RPA chief executive Paul Caldwell said he leaves the agency in a 'great position' to further maximise grant-making and deliver for its customers

On today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown gives the latest on the first case of avian flu found in a single sheep in Yorkshire, the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Slovakia – where the disease has been found on three separate farms, and the Tenant Farmers Association's call on Defra to allow 'in-flight' SFI applications to be processed

James and Isobel have three young children and recently bought their first farm, running beef and sheep over 13.8 hectares (34 acres), renting a further 44.5ha (110 acres). James works for tech firm Breedr as a product manager

The Tenant Farmers Association has asked Defra to provide details of the number of 'in-flight' SFI applications on the RPA system before the scheme was closed

Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrats MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, writes about how farmers feel stranded and let down following Defra's sudden decision to close SFI applications

National Sheep Association (NSA) chief executive Phil Stocker shares his thoughts following a meeting on March 17 with Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner and other industry leaders to discuss the closure of SFI

Hosts of The Rest is Politics podcast discuss why Labour should change their mind on Inheritance Tax changes, why rural Labour MPs are under pressure to deliver for farmers and the importance of direct payments in agriculture

Simon Britton, of Knight Frank, said struggling 'upland farmers' could benefit from a redesign of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme but arable and lowland livestock farms may need to 'reconsider expectations'