SFI agreements live
Defra has also announced that the first Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements for 2024 are now live. In mid-July, there were over 65,400 live agreements across all Defra’s agri-environment schemes, the highest number of accepted agri-environment scheme agreements in history.
The expanded SFI offer initially comprises 102 actions, designed in collaboration with the agricultural sector, including over 20 new options to support more sustainable food production, – with payments for precision farming, agroforestry, a new and expanded offer for upland farmers and more actions for tenants on short-term contracts.
Farmers who want to apply can continue to contact the Rural Payments Agency to express their interest.
Voluntary advice has also been published today to help farmers and landowners to carry out the actions and new guidance and updates to the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ is available.
Farming Minister, Daniel Zeichner said: “This Government recognises that food security is national security. We said we would provide stability for farmers and we are delivering on this commitment by confirming that the first Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements are now live.
“This is the first step to increase farmer confidence, as part of our new deal for farmers, to boost Britain’s food security, restore nature and support rural economic growth. We will optimise Environmental Land Management schemes so they produce the right outcomes for all farmers – including those who have been too often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms.”