Defra grants one-year CS lifeline for 5,000 farmers  

More than 5,000 farmers in England will get a one-year reprieve on their Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements, after months of pressure forced Defra to extend vital environmental support due to expire at the end of 2025.

The decision, announced by farming minister Dame Angela Eagle today, offers much-needed clarity to farmers facing a potential funding gap and ensures ongoing delivery of nature-friendly practices during a turbulent transition in agri-environment policy.

Defra says the one-off investment of up to £70m is designed to maintain momentum on vital environmental work while providing strategic stability during a period of transition in agri-environment funding.

See also: English farmers face funding gap as CS agreements expire

“We’re backing farmers with the largest investment in nature-friendly farming in history, underpinning our cast iron commitment to food security,” said Dame Angela.

“This targeted extension to Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements ensures farmers have the certainty and support they need to continue to grow their businesses, get more British food on our plates, and help restore nature.”

The Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme rewards farmers and land managers for actions that support biodiversity and natural capital, such as planting wildflower margins, nurturing species-rich grassland, and managing hedgerows.

These efforts are critical to the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to drive economic growth and long-term food security through environmental sustainability.

However, while the government framed the decision as part of a broader strategic commitment, the move also comes after months of persistent pressure from the farming community.

NFU lobbying

The NFU, which launched a concerted campaign earlier this year, welcomed the announcement but made clear it was not a government-led initiative alone.

NFU deputy president David Exwood said: “We’re really pleased that Defra has listened and given certainty to so many farmers about the future of their environmental work for the year ahead.

“It recognises the valuable environmental work they have been delivering for many years.”

Mr Exwood added: “This result is a culmination of months of campaigning by the NFU.

“In reality it means that agreement holders will be able to continue delivering everything from wildflower corridors and habitats for farmland birds to nurturing species-rich grassland.”

The NFU’s lobbying included parliamentary questions, Freedom of Information requests, and direct meetings with Defra, including one with new secretary of state Emma Reynolds on her first day in post.

The news was confirmed in a follow-up meeting between Ms Reynolds and NFU president Tom Bradshaw on Tuesday 14 October.

The union warned of a looming funding gap and lack of clarity around new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options, which are still under review, with the scheme remaining closed to new applicants until at least next spring.

‘Positive move’ – NFFN chief

Martin Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, greeted the CS scheme extension as “a really positive move”.

“It clearly shows the government’s commitment to support nature friendly farmers,” he said.

Mr Lines said he had been calling for a one-year rollover extension since the SFI closed earlier this year to new applicants.

“We identified Countryside Stewardship farmers with agreements finishing this year being left without continued funding for delivering nature friendly farming,” he added.

‘Agonising wait’ – TFA 

Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) chief executive George Dunn said many members endured an agonising wait for clarity on the future of the CS scheme, but added that the extension “comes better late than never”. 

“We have had many members worried sick about the funding gap that they could have faced and having to make the unpalatable decision to move land out of environmental options into full commercial agricultural use,” said Mr Dunn.

“In the end, Defra had no real option but to offer a one-year extension.

“We must have a more strategic approach taken to these schemes to ensure that we are properly able to target what is needed to deliver both food and environmental security from our farmland.”

RPA letters

Eligible farmers will receive letters from the Rural Payments Agency with instructions on how to accept the extension.

The letter will contain details of how they accept their extension and the deadline they need to meet for it to be processed. 

Guidance on Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreement extensions will be available from 11am Wednesday 15 October on Gov.UK.

Defra says there are currently 77,000 live agri-environment agreements in place, covering half of England’s farmed land.