In a guest blog, Sarah Hulme reports on the repercussions of a recent government decision to halt funding for sustainability initiatives on farms
Without any warning, on 11 March, the government pulled the application process for a key environmental funding stream for farmers, saying the budget has been spent[1]. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) was designed to help farmers transition towards sustainable and nature-friendly farming practices – growing food in ways that protect nature and reduce the impact caused by intensive farming – as a key part of the drive towards net zero. These changes require costly interventions and, with no instant fix, these need investment and security for the longer term if farmers are to make this transition. It had been a central strand of the post-Brexit farming payments system.
Uncertainty was already placing a large strain on the agricultural industry, with forward planning and investment hard to make as it felt that government decisions kept shifting the goalposts.[2] Half the farm land in England now falls outside any kind of current scheme that rewards biodiversity or climate change mitigation, at a time where the State of Nature Report has found that the UK is ”one of the most nature depleted countries on earth.”[3]
The Farmers Weekly describes the suspension of the scheme as “the cruellest betrayal”[4] for farmers already attempting to plan longer term whilst adapting to tax changes, factor in potential changes due to a land use consultation, and still facing accelerating cuts in ‘delinked payments’, another previously major funding scheme[5] – leaving many with a cash flow crisis.
George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers Association, says, “DEFRA’s decision to halt SFI represents failure on many levels… leading to many in the farming community feeling betrayed. The bigger failure we must also address for the long term is that the returns to primary producers from the marketplace do not provide a sustainable return for the risk, investment and effort employed by farmers and growers delivering great products alongside wider environmental services.”[6]
Rev David Newlove, Methodist Superintendent Minister in North Cumbria Circuit and an agricultural chaplain, commented, “This leaves people high and dry. Farmers were encouraged under the new government to dream of better ways of farming, but now this appears not valued. The government are sleep walking us into a food crisis, leaving those on the margins unable to afford fresh food, forcing them to eat a diet of highly processed food, with associated health implications.”
Bridget Down, a trustee of the Arthur Rank Centre, said, “As a farmer’s wife today I see the SFI application due to be sent later this week lying dormant on the desk. The plans are redundant, the dreams we were asked to dream lay torn. But in the ground the seed hasn’t been sown, the calves not bought! So what are we meant to do for the coming year to compensate the loss? My main concern is the upset on already vulnerable bank accounts, minds and hope… a devastating day! Food security will impact those living on the edge of destitution hardest.”
How does this latest news impact anyone not directly connected with agriculture? Why should we care? Other than the obvious issues of injustice, what might the knock-on effects be for the wider population?
At the very least, we should be praying for those currently reeling from this latest announcement, for their health and well-being. Checking in with those we are connected with in our rural communities and showing our concern. As Christians who care about the flourishing of all creation, this needs our attention.
Tom Bradshaw, the Chair of the National Farmers’ Union, has observed, “The awful dilemma now faced by many farmers is whether to turn their backs on environmental work and just farm as hard as they can to survive. This is a loss to both farming and the environment and cannot be what was intended.”
Sarah Hulme is the Methodist Rural Mission & Ministry Officer
[1] An update on the Sustainable Farming Incentive – Farming
[2] NFU responds to sudden closure of SFI24 applications – NFUonline
[3] State of Nature 2023 – report on the UK’s current biodiversity
[4] ‘Cruellest betrayal’ as Defra halts new SFI applications – Farmers Weekly
[5] Further information announced on delinked payments in 2025 | AHDB
[6] TFA Media Release MR 25/07 – TFA Reaction: DEFRA’s Decision to Halt SFI Represents Failure on Many Levels