SFI 2023: RPA issues early payments to first farmers

The first farmers who signed up to the Sustainable Farming Incentive have been receiving advance payments worth 25% of the value of annual agreements.

There have been more than 14,000 registrations of interest and almost 1,000 applications submitted since the scheme started accepting applications last month.

According to Defra, every farmer whose agreement started on 1 October 2023 received their early Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2023 payment this week, helping to ease cashflow concerns amid a challenging year for farming.

See also: SFI 2023: The support options for arable growers

From the end of this week, the majority of farmers will no longer need to submit registrations of interest and will be able to apply directly online. 

However, those farming on commons should continue to express their interest with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), who can support them to get ready to apply. 

Defra secretary Therese Coffey said she was “delighted” by the number of agreements that are already in place for SFI 2023, and she encouraged farmers of all types to get involved and see what the scheme can offer their farm business.  

“We are engaging with farmers and taking onboard their feedback to continually improve the scheme, including delivering on our commitment to introduce early payments and taking steps to simplify the application process,” she added.

RPA chief executive Paul Caldwell said: “We understand the importance of cashflow for farmers and hope the measures we have taken will assist in making a difference at an important time. 

“We are continuing to work hard on getting more and more farmers involved in SFI.” 

September launch

Defra started to accept expressions for the SFI 2023 scheme a month ago, on Monday 18 September.

Some 83,000 farmers in England claiming the Basic Payment Scheme are eligible to apply for SFI, which is the first component of its post-Brexit Environmental Land Management programme.

The SFI pays farmers in England to take actions that support food production, farm profitability and resilience, while protecting and enhancing the environment.  

The 2023 offer has been expanded and made more flexible in response to farmer feedback, with more than 23 paid-for actions now on offer, including improving hedgerows, nutrient management, farmland wildlife and low-input grassland.