Defra delivers “another shattering blow” with sudden closure of SFI applications

The NFU has branded Defra a “failing department” after it announced, without warning, that it is no longer accepting new applications for SFI24.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has brought into question the department’s transparency and its ability to deliver the agricultural transition promised following the closure of applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme.

The SFI scheme is a UK government scheme that pays farmers in England to adopt and maintain farming practices that promote conservation and nature recovery.

Defra has said the SFI24 budget has been allocated, and that it has therefore reached its completion.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the news was “another shattering blow to English farms delivered, yet again, with no warning, no understanding of the industry and a complete lack of compassion or care”.

He added: “We have had major concerns for years about whether there was the capability within Defra to deliver the agricultural transition post-Brexit.

“We have warned time and time again that large parts of the SFI were poorly designed and that the department was consistently failing to deliver it.”

“It is another example of the growing disregard for agriculture within the department.”