CLA comments on suspension of Sustainable Farming Incentive
The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) has commented on government’s suspension of
the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
The announcement is: With record numbers of farm businesses in farming schemes and the
sustainable farming budget successfully allocated, we will stop accepting new applications for SFI
from today.
Every penny in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible
applications that have been submitted will be processed.
Now is the right time for a reset: supporting farmers, delivering for nature and targeting public
funds fairly and effectively towards our priorities for food, farming and nature.
We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer with details to follow the Spending
Review.’
Country Land and Business Association President Victoria Vyvyan:
“SFI was the most ambitious, forward thinking and environmentally friendly agricultural policy seen
anywhere in the world – it promised a fairer future for farmers and a greener future globally. Labour
promised to support it, but at the first available opportunity they have instead scrapped it. Of all the
betrayals so far, this is the most cruel.”
“It actively harms nature. It actively harms the environment. And, with war once again raging in
Europe, to actively harm our food production is reckless beyond belief.”
CLA Director North Harriet Ranson said: “The bombshell, overnight announcement of the
scrapping of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which has always been billed as a rolling application
window, demonstrates yet again the lack of understanding this Government has of farming
calendars, lengthy production cycles and their dismissal of farmers mental health and wellbeing.”
“I would go so far as to say it is an atrocity that will damage the UK’s food security and our
commitments to nature recovery and environmental targets. The loss of SFI represents a destructive
blow to farmers across the North, especially those in upland areas who have always taken a back
seat when it comes to farming support.”
“This government seems hell-bent on destroying the farming sector – farming support schemes
can’t simply be switched on and off without there being major consequences, especially for smaller
farmers. The CLA will fight tooth and nail to seek constructive change, and we will support our
members during this impossibly challenging time.”
