Over the last month DEFRA has been welcoming the new ministerial team headed up by Steve Reed, the Secretary of State, and at long last we have an update from DEFRA regarding the SFI and environmental schemes.
There was uncertainty in the air when DEFRA missed the 22nd July deadline to open SFI 2024 to the masses, the good news is the new team recognises the need for stability and have committed to “not overturning the applecart” stating they are fully committed to the environmental land management schemes (ELMs), of which SFI is a key component.
In order to enter into SFI 2024 you will currently still need to express interest before being able to apply.
Reassuringly the first SFI 2024 agreements are now in place, and many applicants are quickly being invited to apply, suggesting that in reality, the expression of interest is now more of a data collection exercise than a true delay to the roll out.
If you have not already had a look at the full range of options, DEFRA have created a handy database that allows you to filter out the range of options that you are eligible for: https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms
“A new deal for Farmers”
Last week the Labour government promised a “new deal for farmers” to restore confidence in the agricultural sector.
With Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, saying:
“Confidence amongst farmers is extremely low”
“The new government will restore stability and confidence in the sector, introducing a new deal for farmers to boost rural and economic growth and strengthen food security alongside nature recovery”
“We will protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals, make the supply chain work more fairly, prevent shock rises in bills by switching on GB Energy, better protect them from flooding through a new Flood Resilience Taskforce and use the government’s own purchasing power to back British produce”
The 7 Key areas of focus for the new government are as follows;
Optimising Environmental Land Management schemes so they produce the right outcomes for all farmers - including those who have been too often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms - while delivering food security and nature recovery in a just and equitable way.
Seeking a new veterinary agreement with the European Union to cut red tape at our borders and get British food exports moving again.
Protecting farmers from being undercut by low welfare and low standards in trade deals.
Using the government’s purchasing power to back British produce.
Setting up a new British Infrastructure Council to steer private investment in rural areas including broadband rollout in our rural communities.
Speeding up the building of flood defences and natural flood management schemes, including through a new flood resilience taskforce to protect our rural homes and farms.
Introducing a land-use framework which balances long-term food security and nature recovery.
Certainly, a list that seems to have the industry’s best interests at heart. It will be very interesting to see how this unfolds and what impact it will have on the industry.
The full update can be found here:
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