Defra urged to make progress on new entrants scheme

Farming groups are urging Defra to make progress on its New Entrants Support Scheme, which is yet to be launched almost a year since it piloted.

The scheme is being introduced as part of Defra’s agricultural transition and it aims to support new entrants into farming to develop successful land-based businesses in England.

Defra says the scheme will “provide funding to create lasting opportunities for new entrants to access land, infrastructure and support to establish successful and innovative businesses”.

See also: Farming entrants support scheme begins pilot stage in England

Funding for the scheme will be allocated from savings resulting from reducing Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments. The overall value of the scheme is unclear.

In March, Defra revealed it was more than half way through five pilots involving almost 200 people from different backgrounds, including farming and non-farming backgrounds.

More than half (53%) want to start up businesses, while 47% intend to scale up their existing businesses.

Harper Adams University, the School for Social Entrepreneurs, the Landworkers’ Alliance and Shared Assets were selected as the four organisations to run the pilot phase.

Defra is due to publish a report on the next steps for the scheme this autumn. It was originally supposed to be launched in 2022.

TFA plea

The tenanted sector is one of the best routes to bring new entrants into the industry and Defra committed to see how the pilot scheme will support farmers to gain new tenancies.

A spokesman for the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) said: “We have got new entrants starting to take on farm tenancies this autumn.

“They can access funding in the SFI [Sustainable Farming Incentive]; they were promised that specific scheme. But they cannot access the BPS now.

“There is budget available. The TFA would like to know what has happened to it and where it has gone.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “Last year, we launched the New Entrants Support Scheme pilots to look at how we can best support new entrants to develop successful land-based businesses, and increasing their opportunities to access land and finance.

“Almost 200 people have been taking part and more than 80% are not from a farming family background.

“We are currently evaluating this pilot to inform our next steps so we continue to attract new entrants into the sector.”