If you are yet to sign up to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), recent reductions in delinked payments means there there are now even more reasons to do so.
Food security and sustainable land management are central to both the UK economy and the environment. With these priorities in mind, the government has recently reaffirmed its commitment to supporting UK farmers in adopting greener practices, from improving water quality and reducing waste to bolstering biodiversity and climate resilience.
In the latest Spending Review, a total budget of £2.4 billion has been set aside for the coming year, ensuring ongoing support for Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. This includes funding for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship, and Landscape Recovery schemes.
Delinked payments reduction: a step towards more targeted support
Significant cuts to delinked payments will begin in the next financial year, with a targeted approach prioritising effective fund allocation. The largest subsidy recipients will experience the sharpest reductions, with farmers who received more than £100,000 in 2020 seeing payments shrink to no more than £8,000 by 2025. Most smaller-scale farmers, who received less than £10,000 in payments, will see a gradual decrease, retaining access to SFI and other schemes.
For 2025, an estimated 76% reduction will be applied to the first £30,000 of each payment, with no funding issued for amounts above this threshold. This approach aims to widen access to financial resources, enabling more UK farmers to invest in sustainable practices.
The Sustainable Farming Incentive: supporting sustainable land management
The SFI is a core part of the ELM scheme, designed to help farmers manage their land sustainably for both environmental and agricultural benefits. Through the SFI, farmers can gain critical support to make their farms more resilient and better prepared for the future.
Farmers are encouraged to explore how the SFI can support their operations and help them transition towards sustainable practices, ensuring long-term productivity and environmental stewardship.