sustainable farming incentive

Scottish agricultural support payments held up by 'blu tack and sticky tape'

Politics

Scottish agricultural support payments held up by 'blu tack and sticky tape'

Jim Walker, chair of the Suckler Beef Climate Group Programme Board, said the Scottish Government's system for supporting farmers was ‘not fit for purpose' and that a decline in cattle numbers had placed a 'burden' on farmers

clock 16 March 2025 • 5 min read
Farming in Five: Defra under scrutiny over its decision to close SFI, with questions around why farmers were given little notice, and its transparency over the budget. But who will be the winners and losers?

Farming in Five

Farming in Five: Defra under scrutiny over its decision to close SFI, with questions around why farmers were given little notice, and its transparency over the budget. But who will be the winners and losers?

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on the latest from the fallout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive closure. Defra is under scrutiny over its failure to give farmers' notice as the industry questions whether all the budget has been spent. She also looks ahead to next week, a special podcast on Donald Trump, tariffs and what this means for machinery markets and UK farming going forward and the livestock team are heading to Borderway UK Dairy Expo at Carlisle this week, the first dairy show of the year

clock 14 March 2025 • 1 min read
Letters: How can the Government claim to be aligned with a greener economy, only to turn its back on the very farmers who are driving sustainability?

Politics

Letters: How can the Government claim to be aligned with a greener economy, only to turn its back on the very farmers who are driving sustainability?

This week sheep farmer and founder of rural education petition Olivia Shave reflects on this week's decision from Defra, to halt 2024 Sustainable Farming Incentive applications

clock 14 March 2025 • 1 min read
February 13: Farming Minister said giving notice on SFI closure would have led to a 'spike in applications'

Farming in Five

February 13: Farming Minister said giving notice on SFI closure would have led to a 'spike in applications'

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown analyses the fall out from the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), with the Farming Minister telling MPs that farmers were not given notice on closure as it would have led to a 'further spike in applications'. The National Trust says Defra's decision to close SFI to new applications will leave farmers facing a 'four month funding gap'. And she takes a look at the NFU's farmer confidence survey which is reportedly at an 'all time low'

clock 13 March 2025 • 1 min read
It was not possible to give any further warning on SFI24 closure, says Farming Minister

Politics

It was not possible to give any further warning on SFI24 closure, says Farming Minister

Despite the Government's own website stating that it would give farmers six week notice before the closure of SFI, the Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said it was not possible, as it would have led to a ‘further spike in applications'

clock 12 March 2025 • 4 min read
"Defra must be upfront about the figures" - George Dunn, Tenant Farmers Association

Blogs

"Defra must be upfront about the figures" - George Dunn, Tenant Farmers Association

Mr Dunn said: "Out of the £2.4 billion of budget allocated for the full panoply of schemes under the Agricultural Transition Plan, we need to know how much has been allocated to each element"

clock 12 March 2025 • 5 min read
Farmers brand Defra's update to stop SFI24 an 'absolute shambles'

Politics

Farmers brand Defra's update to stop SFI24 an 'absolute shambles'

clock 11 March 2025 • 3 min read
Defra stops accepting new applications for SFI 24

Politics

Defra stops accepting new applications for SFI 24

SFI24 now has more than 37,000 multi-year live agreements and has reached its ‘maximum limit' and can no longer accept new SFI applications from today

clock 11 March 2025 • 5 min read
Sustainable Farming Incentive for livestock farmers - how to apply

Livestock

Sustainable Farming Incentive for livestock farmers - how to apply

The Sustainable Farming Incentive has several actions that could be attractive to livestock farmers

clock 25 February 2025 • 6 min read
Once-in-a-lifetime tenancy gives new entrants opportunity to expand farming business

Farm Life

Once-in-a-lifetime tenancy gives new entrants opportunity to expand farming business

When a North Yorkshire couple were approached with a long-term Farm Business Tenancy, they had 'no hestitation' in their reply

clock 13 February 2025 • 7 min read