Government pledges to simplify Sustainable Farming Incentives

The reform will impact one of the key subsidy schemes that encourages nature-friendly farming practices.

Lack of clarity about the costs and eligibility, alongside time frames, have been a source of ire for farmers, including those across Herefordshire.

Today (January 8) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds MP addressed the Oxford Farming Conference with a series of announcements impacting farming, including a plan for SFI reforms.

The Secretary pledged that when the new offer opens later this year, it will be simpler.

Defra said: "We are streamlining the actions available to reduce complexity. There will still be plenty of choice, with a stronger focus on actions that support sustainable food production.

"We are also considering an agreement value cap to help share funding more fairly while delivering benefits for nature and climate.

"We will publish full details before the first application window opens in June, giving farmers time to understand the offer. "

According to other farming sources Reynolds has already confirmed that there will be two SFI application windows in 2026, with the first from June prioritising smaller farms and those without an existing agreement, followed by a second round from September for a wider cohort.

The promise is that reforms will: “simplify the scheme, level the playing field, and provide stable, predictable delivery”.

The SFI is one of the UK Government’s key post-Brexit farmer payment packages, introduced to replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy approach. It incentivises farmers to maintain and improve soil quality, water quality and nature, as well as to produce food.

Meantime the government is also planning to publish a 25-year Farming Roadmap to set out the long-term direction for farming, including how the sector will adapt to changing markets, new technologies and environmental pressures, and how government will support that change.