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Farm funding race leaves farmers behind
21 Oct
Summary
- Farmers missed out on £310m funding within hours.
- A first-come, first-served system caused disadvantages.
- Ministers acknowledge concerns and plan fairer systems.
Farmers attempting to access a £310 million environmental support scheme have been left disappointed after funding was depleted within mere hours of applications opening. Richard Peace, who farms near Nuneaton in Warwickshire, aimed to leave crops unharvested to support wildlife, including barn owls. However, his application was submitted minutes too late for the scheme, which closed rapidly.
The funding, intended to pay for public goods like habitat improvement and biodiversity, operated on a first-come, first-served basis. This system reportedly disadvantaged smaller family farms, which may lack the resources to dedicate staff to monitor application portals. The National Farmers' Union had warned of high demand, with approximately 12,000 farmers unable to submit their applications in time.
Farming Minister Stephen Morgan acknowledged the disappointment of farmers who missed out on the SFI26 agreement. He stated a commitment to working with farmers to learn lessons and shape future schemes, including investigating alternatives to the current application process. The hope is for a fairer system in 2027 that allows more farmers to access support for wildlife-benefiting projects.
