NFU seeks farmers’ views on how to make SFI27 fairer

The NFU is seeking views from its farmer-members on how the next Sustainable Farming Incentive should work, as pressure mounts on Defra to prevent a repeat of September’s funding scramble.

The union wants ministers to consider alternatives to the current first-come, first-served approach after the £233m budget for SFI26 Window 2 was exhausted in less than six hours on 22 September.

See also: ‘Computer said no’: Allerton Project left in limbo after SFI chaos

NFU members have until Wednesday 21 October to share their priorities for SFI27 and suggest fairer ways of allocating funding.

The feedback will inform the union’s lobbying of Defra, which is responsible for deciding how the scheme is designed and funded.

Farmers left out in the cold

The NFU wants SFI27 to open early in 2027, allowing agreements to start from 1 April. It is also calling for regular application opportunities and priority for farmers whose existing environmental agreements are expiring.

The union estimates that the value of expiring agreements exceeds £520m, compared with £310m allocated across the two SFI26 application windows.

It wants Defra to explain the discrepancy and provide greater clarity over future environmental support.

The funding shortfall has left some farmers facing significant financial uncertainty.

Peter Hatley, who farms with his family at Landbeach, Cambridgeshire, had prepared an SFI26 application after two decades of participating in environmental schemes.

But when he and his adviser logged on on opening day, every land parcel on the application portal returned an error.

Despite contacting the Rural Payments Agency and attempting to resolve the problems, funding ran out before he could secure an agreement.

The farm had hoped to receive £150,000 over three years.

Mr Hatley warned that losing support could put years of environmental work at risk, including hedges, wildlife-friendly field margins and pollen and nectar mixes.

Leicestershire farmer Joe Stanley also missed out after technical problems prevented the Allerton Project from submitting its application, leaving a £55,000 gap in expected income.

The 320ha research farm’s existing Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement is due to expire at the end of 2026.

Defra holds the key

Defra has committed to offering an SFI scheme in 2027 and is considering refinements following the latest application window.

However, decisions on funding, eligibility and application arrangements rest with government.

The NFU wants ministers to ensure the next offer reflects farmers’ ambitions for environmental improvements while giving businesses greater certainty to plan.

Separately, Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has launched a survey into farmers’ experiences of accessing SFI26 Window 2.

For those who missed out, the priority is clarity over what comes next. For Defra, the challenge is to deliver a workable scheme that gives farmers a realistic chance to secure support and continue environmental work.

NFU members can submit their views on NFUOnline on SFI27 by 21 October.