More than 10,000 farmers have now applied for the latest round of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
As of today (Wednesday, February 14), one in eight farmers have submitted an application for the scheme, on top of the 32,000 Countryside Stewardship agreements which are already in place.
SFI pays farmers for taking actions that support food production, farm productivity and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.
As of January, 174,000ha of arable land is now being managed without insecticides, 71,000ha of low input grassland is focused on improving sustainability, and almost 15,000km of hedgerows are under management.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “The Sustainable Farming Incentive has something on offer for every type of farm business, so it’s pleasing to see the scheme proving popular with farmers across England.
“For those who have not yet applied, I encourage you to take a look at how the scheme could work for your business so you can join the thousands of other farmers already getting paid.”
Rural Payments Agency (RPA) chief executive Paul Caldwell said: “We’ve worked hard to make the application process straightforward and the feedback we are getting from a majority of farmers is that they are finding it so.
“Everything that farmers need to apply has been published and I would urge them not to wait and get involved now.”
SFI expansion
SFI has been expanded based on farmers’ feedback, Defra said, with a straightforward application process, greater flexibility for farmers to choose the actions that work for them, and the ability to be in SFI at the same time as Countryside Stewardship as long as the actions are compatible.
This includes around 50 new actions that farmers can get paid for across all types of farm businesses; a 10% increase in the average value of agreements in the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship driven by increased payment rates, with uplifts automatically applied to existing agreements; and a streamlined single application process for farmers to apply for SFI and Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier.
Defra is encouraging farmers to apply for an SFI agreement now and choose from the 23 actions already on offer, rather than delay until summer when the scheme will be expanded further.
This is to ensure farmers can benefit from funding available now, and can then add actions to their agreements annually – or have multiple agreements – if they wish to carry out further actions.
Supports for farmers considering applying include:
- Sector-specific webinars in February and March to give farmers and land managers a chance to give their feedback and learn more about SFI;
- Defra and RPA colleagues will be on stands at agricultural shows throughout England with more information;
- 6 regional events in Southwest, West Midlands and North East to raise awareness of schemes, especially amongst livestock and mixed sectors;
- Planned joint webinars with trusted networks including Catchment Sensitive Farming advisors, FAS, Barclays Bank, Waitrose;
- Defra attendance at NFU conference;
- Ongoing monthly engagement with top 30 stakeholders through forums and bilaterals.
On Farm Environmental Resilience
Defra has also announced the winners of the On Farm Environmental Resilience competition.
24 winning projects will be awarded a share of £12.2 million to solve long-term challenges to plants, crops and farmed animals.
The funding is part of Defra’s £270 million Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) delivered by Innovate UK.
The successful recipients include a project which aims to boost food security by increasing the yields of fresh fruit and vegetables grown in greenhouses by 20%.
The project is using sunlight changing materials to design a new greenhouse which alters the ratio and amount of light that plants receive, reducing the need for extra LED lighting and saving electricity.
Another project centres on developing a smart indoor lighting system that responds directly to chicken behaviour to help improve their welfare, reducing the spread of disease and boosting productivity.
Meanwhile a third project is working with UK vineyard Rathfinny Wine Estates to boost the production of sustainable British wine through precision farming.
The project will use technology to accurately and remotely monitor soil and water conditions, leading to better crop management.
Lambda Agri was awarded over £400,000 through the scheme to develop its pioneering new greenhouses.
Its chief executive Niall Haughian said: “Lambda Agri is delighted to receive funding from this particular Farming Innovation Programme competition which will allow us to undertake independent trials at a large scale.
“Lambda will develop enhanced polycarbonate sidings, in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and Brett Martin, that will provide plants with extra red light which has been proven to increase crop yields.
“Lambda, in partnership with Brett Martin, will sell enhanced greenhouse sidings to growers next year. This will provide welcome boost to British greenhouses growers while also making the country more food independent.”
