Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Expanding the Sustainable Farming Incentive offer

21 May 2024 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Proposed by Mark Spencer Con Sherwood

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

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At a glance

Key points

  • Government is expanding the Sustainable Farming Incentive offer to provide more flexibility and support for farmers
  • Farmers will have access to new SFI actions including agroforestry and precision farming from July
  • Increased management payments of up to 1,000 in the first year are part of the expanded offer

Issue summary

The government is expanding the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer, providing more flexibility and support for farmers.

Action requested

Farmers will have access to an expanded SFI offer from July, including new actions such as agroforestry and precision farming, increased management payments of up to £1,000 in the first year, and limits on land entry into certain SFI actions to safeguard food production. The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier details will be published this summer.

Key facts

  • Over a quarter of all farmers have applied to join the SFI.
  • The expanded SFI offer includes 102 actions, with new and improved versions of existing actions.
  • Management payments are doubled to £40 per hectare for up to 50 hectares in the first year.
  • Farmers receive an average of £262/ha through delinked payments and SFI compared to £233/ha from BPS.
  • Limits on land entry into six SFI actions were placed in March 2024, with four additional limits for the expanded offer.
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