Farming representatives called on the Minister to:
- Unlock the SFI scheme for the thousands of farmers who have begun agreements but are now unable to be paid for the work they have completed.
- Provide more information about the future of the SFI scheme.
- Build trust in the farming industry by being transparent about the agriculture budget and its allocations.
- Undertake impact assessments, looking at what the decision means for the agriculture transition.
The roundtable comes after Defra announced, without warning, that it would no longer be accepting applications for SFI24 as of Tuesday 11 March.
NFU member case studies, gathered since the news of the closure, were today presented to Mr Zeichner during the meeting, to demonstrate the direct impact this will have on businesses.
‘Crushed all trust in Defra’
Following the roundtable, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The closure of SFI is a devastating shock for farmers and leaves businesses on a knife edge when they were already struggling with the impact of the changes to inheritance tax.
“We made it clear to the Minister that this decision not only threatens the livelihoods of numerous farmers, especially upland farmers, commoners and tenants, but also undermines the ability of farm businesses to deliver environmental work.
“We also explained how it has crushed all trust in Defra.”
“The Minister could ensure that those farmers who feel abandoned, the people that have started applications and done the work, are able to enter into agreements.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
Tom cited the NFU’s recent farm business confidence survey results, which revealed that farmer confidence has reached an all-time low, adding that this abrupt policy change “will erode any confidence that was left in the farming community”.
He said: “Farmers need stability to plan for the future, invest in their businesses and continue their role as stewards of the countryside. The withdrawal of SFI leaves many facing the dilemma of whether they can afford to continue implementing environmental work, ultimately putting both food production and sustainability targets at risk.”
Government must start listening
The NFU President called on Defra to provide urgent clarity on the future of SFI and to start being transparent about its budget, something the NFU has spent years asking for.
Tom added: “As a start, the Minister could ensure that those farmers who feel abandoned, the people that have started applications and done the work, are able to enter into agreements.
“If the government wants to meet its own environmental targets and keeping British produce on our plates, it must start listening to and working with the industry before it’s too late.”
Attendees at today’s roundtable included:
- NFU
- NFU Cymru
- CLA
- NSA
- NBA
- Livestock Auctioneers Association
- Sustainable Food Trust
- BPC
- NPA
- TFA
- NFYFC
- BEIC
- Soil Association
- Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers
- BAB
- BFREPA.
Affected applicants can find out more on our SFI essential information page.
