Defra has reopened the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2024 scheme to around 3,000 applicants. The decision, announced this week by farming minister Daniel Zeichner, follows the threat of litigation from a group of NFU-backed farmers over the closure of the SFI without enough notice. Defra had previously assured farmers they would be given six weeks’ warning of any intention by the department to close the scheme to new applicants.
Zeichner said the six-week’s notice message “should not have been included” in the application process. “Eligible applicants will be given a six-week window in which to make an application,” the minister said. “My department will shortly be contacting applicants who are eligible to let them know when this window will open and close.”
The government’s u-turn will allow applications to be made to the scheme by those who had started an application within two months of March 11th 2025, but who had not yet submitted their application. However, there will be some restrictions on who can apply and what they will be able to claim. The NFU welcomed the news but warned the new constraints “will still leave many farmers unfairly disadvantaged”.
The payments are critical to support farmers taking the significant steps required to improve sustainability and support nature, said Soil Association head of farming policy Gareth Morgan. “We know that many have been discouraged from committing to plans without the reassurance the SFI payments offered. Many will not have begun their applications and so will not be eligible for funding,” he added.
Morgan joined others in urging Defra to come forward with details of the SFI replacement scheme as early as possible. He also called for “a clear organic action plan that could help to mirror the success seen in Scotland and other European countries”.
The latest organic farmland statistics from Defra revealed a disappointing picture for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, while Scotland enjoyed a sixth year of fully organic land growth. Total organic farmland (including land in conversion) in Scotland increased by 13% to 131,500ha in 2024, while England there was only a 1% rise to 502,800ha. In Wales organic land declined 11% to 68,300ha.
