The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published figures for the uptake of their Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes up to 1 April 2025.
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.
The National Audit Office has published a report on Defra’s Farming and Countryside Programme. Vicky Robinson, AIC's Head of Sustainability, considers the report's findings.
Details of the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for 2024 have been published, outlining what will be available at scale to farmers in England from July.