Farmers frustrated by limited Defra support schemes

Farmers across England are raising concerns over the limited scope of Defra’s funding schemes, with many feeling sidelined unless they focus on woodland creation.

Despite recent government claims of record investment in sustainable agriculture, paused funding opportunities and narrow eligibility criteria have left many farmers struggling to make ends meet.

See also: Fears grow of further budget pain for farmers

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), a central component of Defra’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, has been slow to roll out.

Simultaneously, the suspension of 76 capital grant items has further restricted English farmers’ options for essential improvements.

Other vital programmes, such as Landscape Recovery, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) and the Farming Innovation Programme, are closed for new applications.

In the first week of December, Defra announced it had injected £343m into rural economies, benefitting more than 31,000 farmers.

This includes £223m for Countryside Stewardship (CS), £74m for Environmental Stewardship (ES) and £39m for SFI customers.

But new initiatives, such as the CS Higher Tier Scheme, will not open until January 2025 – and through invite only – with funding not available until much later in the year.

The scheme will offer 132 management actions and 151 capital items to protect and enhance the environment, including sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs).  

Drastic BPS cuts

Meanwhile, drastic cuts to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) continue, with most farms in England set to receive a maximum of £7,200 next year before the scheme phases out entirely by 2027.

Tom Cooper, a land agent and chartered surveyor based in Doncaster, said: “There’s not a vast amount to go at, unless you are wanting to plant trees, not farm!”

Oxfordshire farmer Tom Allen-Stevens criticised the Labour government for continually “banging on about” its £5bn commitment to farming in England.

“In real terms, when you take inflation into account, it is the lowest amount in decades,” he said.

“This government is taxing farmers to the hilt but has halted growth opportunities. It’s frustrating and unsustainable.”

Mr Allen-Stevens also noted delays to R&D agricultural funding being rolled out too, including £40m of funding for the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (Adopt) Fund, originally announced last year with the first projects earmarked for funding in late 2024.

RSPB criticism

Environmental advocates have weighed in on the funding challenges.

Independent economic analysis commissioned by the RSPB has identified a funding gap in excess of £800m in England’s annual Higher Tier spend, including for small and upland farms in England, meant to help meet legally binding nature and climate targets.

Alice Groom, head of sustainable land use policy at the RSPB, said: “The government is falling behind the ambition required to future-proof food security, farm resilience, and biodiversity.”

But Defra secretary Steve Reed insisted the government’s commitment to farmers remains “steadfast”, as evidenced by its £5bn commitment to agriculture in England over the next two years.

“As we set out our Plan for Change, we are focused on supporting our farmers, supporting rural economics growth and boosting Britain’s food security,” he said.