Today, June 30, 2022, marks the beginning of the application period for the Sustainable Farming Incentive in England.
The program is open to all farmers who now receive Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments, is created to be user-friendly, and will honor environmentally friendly practices that boost food production.
The Agricultural Transition Plan, the UK’s new system of farming now that we are outside the EU and which is structured in the best interests of English farmers, is introducing three new environmental land management programmes, the first of which is the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
By making investments in the ecosystems that support food production—healthy soil, clean water, and biodiverse ecosystems—the plans will guarantee long-term food security. More than 4,000 farmers have collaborated with Defra to test and trial the new strategy.
To manage the launch in a careful, measured manner, Defra is launching the program in a controlled rollout starting on June 30. Those without other agri-environment agreements will be able to apply online right away; everyone else will be asked to notify the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) of their intent to apply, and RPA will get in touch and provide assistance.
This is to guarantee that throughout this early period of rollout, everyone receives the proper amount of service and support.
A Moorland standard, where we will pay farmers to assess the condition of the Moorland as a basis for further action in the future through our existing and new schemes, will also be included in the scheme’s initial set of standards, which will recognize the importance of healthy soil for successful farming and the environment.
The program’s first rollout will be followed by three years of expansion when Direct Payments are scaled back. By 2025, the entire set of standards will be implemented.
Minister of Agriculture Victoria Prentis said:
The Sustainable Farming Incentive is created with accessibility in mind and acknowledges the value of domestic food production to the resilience of our country.
Within three months of the commencement of their agreements, farmers will get payment, and compared to prior EU programs, payment rates are more targeted and less prescriptive.
I strongly encourage farmers to apply because we want to support them in the decisions they make regarding their farms.
By making it easier to apply for and simplifying the requirements, Defra has made a number of efforts to make the program accessible to farmers.
This gives farmers the freedom to choose how to best meet the standards outlined in the plan and how much of their land they wish to put under SFI.
Three months after joining, farmers will receive their first payment, and subsequently they will receive payouts every three months.
Additionally, there won’t be an outdated application window, allowing farmers to join the SFI program whenever it is convenient for them during the year.