CLA Director North Harriet Ranson comments on SFI debacle

The whole budget was allocated within six hours, with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) now processing applications.

The CLA said the huge demand was not surprising and raised concerns that many farmers had been excluded, impacting their ability to boost nature and build business resilience.

CLA Director North Harriet Ranson commented:

“The second window of the SFI26 application process was open for a mere six hours before the entire £233million budget was allocated fully, which bears testimony to land managers and farmers commitment to farming hand in glove with nature.

In the chaotic clamour to apply, many applicants never even got the chance to apply as they were feeding livestock, sowing fields etc., with no expectation that the window would close the same day it opened. CLA members who were able to get onto the system have registered their utter disgust with the online application process which entailed numerous systemic difficulties leaving them in a limbo of whether their applications would be noted or does the wheel of doom mean it's game over. The main takeaway is that the government’s budget for sustainable farming and nature recovery is woefully insufficient and anything but trustworthy for businesses who have changed how they manage land to support the national aim of nature recovery.

“If this, or any other government, wants to ensure a sustainable and profitable food and farming sector, they must have longer term policies and support in place to simultaneously support achieving the government’s legally binding environmental targets whilst also supporting the nation’s food production resilience.”

“SFI is a Government contract with land managers to fund with public money the public good of nature recovery and sustainable food production that we all need. A key aspect the CLA has championed was that of a resilient and profitable farming sector, but instead, the Sustainable Farming Incentive is subject to constant change and stop-start funding support. No business can operate with this much uncertainty, 6,000 farms have closed since the IHT changes and this latest disaster will only add to those figures - ultimately a dire prognosis for our food security in Britain.”

Member support and advice

Members are encouraged to contact the regional office to register their experience if they missed out on applying in this round of SFI. Our expert advisers are on hand to assist with this, and other land-owning enquiries. Please contact the office by telephoning 01748 90 7070.