Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Update on Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements

15 October 2025 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Proposed by Angela Eagle Lab Wallasey

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 will offer one-year extensions to farmers with expiring Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements.
  • Farmers eligible for extension will receive a letter from the Rural Payments Agency with instructions.
  • Government is reviewing plans for the Sustainable Farming Incentive for 2026.

Issue summary

The government will offer one-year extensions to farmers with expiring Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements while developing the Sustainable Farming Incentive for 2026.

Action requested

Farmers eligible for an extension will receive a letter from the Rural Payments Agency detailing how to accept their extension by a specified deadline. The government is also reviewing plans for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and will publish information on the next iteration of the scheme in due course.

Key facts

  • More than 5,000 farmers with expiring Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements are offered one-year extensions.
  • One-off investment up to £70 million from existing budgets supports this initiative.
  • The extension offer letters will be sent by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
  • Funding for Environmental Land Management schemes, including Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, will increase by 150% to £2 billion by 2029.
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