Some farmers can apply for SFI funding, Defra confirms
Farmers who were locked out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme despite being midway through an application will now be allowed to access support.
Defra says those who saved their application but didn't submit within two months of the scheme's closure will be allowed to apply up to a maximum of £9,300 per application.
It comes after the scheme was shut without any warning in March, sending shockwaves through the farming sector. Defra had said that 'SFI has reached its completion' so stopped accepting new applications with immediate effect, with a revised scheme to follow.
With talk of a potential legal challenge to the lack of notice, the government now says the thousands of affected farmers will be supported.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said he is 'addressing the situation and have remade the decision to close the SFI 2024 scheme to new applications, without notice, on March 11'.
TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn, while welcoming the relaxation said it was not perfect and would not help everyone.
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) President Victoria Vyvyan said it was a 'limited' amount of money, but it did take a 'bit of the sting out of the suddenness of the closure'.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 'The government's abrupt and wholly unacceptable decision to close the scheme was always wrong. While it's good to see an acknowledgement that the decision to close the scheme was flawed, we are disappointed by the constraints imposed which will still leave many farmers unfairly disadvantaged.
'This is a really critical time for the farming industry, and while today's announcement falls short of what our members deserve, this issue highlights the NFU at its very best, working with its members to stand up for what we believe is right.'
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