Government condemned for halting farming grant scheme without warning

The suspension of a vital agricultural grant scheme with no warning is a betrayal of famers, Torridge MP Sir Geoffrey Cox has said.

The MP has condemned the Labour Government’s decision not to accept any more applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which was announced to the farming industry with only 30 minutes notice.

The scheme, launched in 2022, paid farmers and land managers to take up practices that improve productivity and protect the environment and climate.

They could choose from options such as the management of hedgerows, organic farming development and providing habitat for wildlife.

Sir Geoffrey, Conservative MP for Torridge and Tavistock, said it left thousands of farmers in a state of total uncertainty.

He added: “Following Labour’s cynical death tax on family farms, DEFRA’s decision to end the Sustainable Farming Incentive suddenly and without notice is yet another betrayal of farmers and another example of the Labour Government’s callous disregard for rural communities.

“The National Farmers Union (NFU) reported they were given 30 minutes notice, clearly evidencing that Ministers were aware of how damaging the decision would be.

“Despite the rhetoric from the Secretary of State about his intention to promote food security and encourage sustainable farming, the Government has continued down a path of ‘pulling the rug’ from under farmers, breaking yet another pre-election promise.”

Above: Sir Geoffrey Cox MP

The government has said the budget for SFI had now been reached, adding that a ‘record’ 50,000 farm businesses and more than half of all farmed land is now managed under the schemes.

It said the full amount in all existing SFI agreements would be paid to farmers and outstanding eligible applications already submitted would be taken forward.

It said details of a new SFI scheme will be announced following the forthcoming Spending Review.

But Sir Geoffrey said the Government had suspended capital grants, cut £400million from the farming budget in 2025-2026 and now was abruptly ending the SFI on which farming families depended.

He added: “Even preceding this recent announcement, confidence among farmers was at an all-time low.

“The Government must now urgently introduce the amended scheme, so farmers and rural communities are not left in a state of continuous disruption and uncertainty, unable to plan for their businesses and feeling ever more the target of a Government that every day it does not understand rural interests, and is either indifferent or downright hostile to them.”

Will your farm or business be affected by the sudden suspension of this grant scheme? Email your experience to us at newsdesk@northdevongazette.co.uk