Deadline looms for CS Mid Tier rollover decisions
© Tim Scrivener Time is running out for thousands of English farmers yet to respond to their Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier rollover offers, with Defra warning that the window to secure a one-year extension closes on 27 November 2025.
Speaking at the Country Land and Business Association conference last week, Defra secretary Emma Reynolds reiterated her call for farmers to act, stressing the need for stability after what she acknowledged had been a difficult year for agri-environment scheme delivery.
See also: Defra grants one-year CS lifeline for 5,000 farmers
“From day one, I’ve heard loud and clear how important stability and clarity are for you to plan for the future,” she said.
“I recognise that mistakes were made earlier this year, and that’s why I acted quickly – extending Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements and opening applications for the new and improved Higher-Tier offer.”
While 2,800 farmers have so far responded to their Mid Tier extension offers, “many are yet to respond”, Ms Reynolds warned.
“I urge all those who have not yet responded to do so by the 27 November deadline. I am determined to provide you that same stability going forward,” she said.
What farmers must do
The extension applies to eligible Mid Tier agreements expiring on 31 December 2025.
Crucially, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed the rollover is not automatic – farmers must actively accept the extension by replying to the email or postal letter sent by the RPA.
Failure to respond by 27 November 2025 means the extension will be withdrawn and the agreement will end as originally scheduled. It is understood that more than 2,000 farmers who have been offered an extension have yet to respond.
The one-year rollover will run from 1 January to 31 December 2026 and will operate under the same terms as the existing agreement.
Farmers cannot add or remove options, and any capital items not completed and paid for before the extension begins will be removed.
NFU encouragement
The NFU is encouraging its farmer-members to accept the CS Mid Tier extension before Thursday’s deadline.
NFU deputy president David Exwood said: “The Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier extension offers certainty for the year ahead for many farmers.
“While we still don’t have any more detail about the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive, I’d urge eligible farmers to look over their CS MT offer and respond to the Rural Payments Agency [RPA] communications.
“The deadline to reply is fast approaching and the RPA will withdraw the offer if they don’t hear back.”
Information on transferring schemes will be included in the reformed SFI scheme details next year.
The NFU is also aware that the first CS Higher Tier agreements are expected to go live in December.