Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Conference yesterday, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) set out the Government’s priorities for rural growth and farm profitability.
For Members advising farmers on agri-environment schemes in England, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has issued Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier extension offer letters.
Defra has announced that more than 5,000 farmers in England with Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier (CSMT) agreements, due to expire on 31 December 2025, will be offered a one-year extension.
Defra has announced that over 5,000 farmers in England with Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier (CSMT) agreements expiring on 31 December 2025 will be offered a one-year extension.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) recently published details regarding the amounts by which payment rates for 157 Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) options will rise.
The Government will now allow further applications to be made under Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 24 by those who had started and saved their application within two months of 11 March 2025, but who had not submitted the application by that date.
The UK Government is set to launch several new funding and grant opportunities aimed at boosting farm productivity, improving animal health and welfare, and advancing sustainable farming practices.
