Rolling application window for Sustainable Farming Incentive

Defra has announced further details of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for 2022, which includes plans for a rolling application window.

The scheme, which is the first pillar under Environmental Land Management (ELM), is expected to open for applications from farmers and land managers in England who are eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme from June.

It had previously been expected that there would be a six-week application window, but Defra has removed the requirement.

See also: Sustainable Farming Incentive 2022: What farmers need to know

Geoff Sansome, head of agriculture at Natural England, said a rolling application window means the SFI scheme can be more inclusive and work flexibly with the farming calendar.

He said: “This is good news from everyone’s perspective, including the RPA [Rural Payments Agency] as it will ease the workload.

“Part of the reason the RPA has had problems getting agreements out is because there’s always been this 1 January start date. Everything must happen at once with every agreement.

“The reason the UK had to move to a 1 January start date was because it was an EU constraint forced on us in 2015. I’m sure George Eustice will claim the move to a rolling application window is another Brexit dividend.”

NFU president Minette Batters said: “We support the move to a rolling application window as this will offer flexibility to farmers and growers to apply at a time that suits their business.”

But Defra must match this commitment by providing farmers with certainty when agreements will start once an application has been submitted, Mrs Batters stressed.

Rates unchanged

Defra says the payments will help farmers with the costs of sowing nitrogen-fixing plants and green manures in their crops as part of its strategy to reduce their reliance on artificial fertilisers linked to the price of gas.

The payment rates for SFI standards remain unchanged since Defra’s last announcement in December (see “Payment rates for SFI 2022 standards”).

Mrs Batters said it was essential the rates properly recognise the public goods farmers will be delivering. The offer will be suitable for some farms, but the options were “still not viable options for all”.

“With farmers in England receiving less direct support, the government must ensure new ways of farmers and growers managing their risk and volatility,” said Mrs Batters.