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Farm Aid Scheme Collapse: £233M Gone in Six Hours!
24 Sep
Summary
- England's largest farm environmental scheme closed after funds were depleted.
- Farmers described the application process as 'shambolic' and 'carnage'.
- UK baked beans are currently imported, with one farmer trialing a British variety.
England's largest farm environmental scheme, the Sustainable Farming Incentive, experienced a rapid depletion of its £233 million budget on Tuesday. The scheme, designed to compensate farmers for undertaking environmental stewardship such as planting hedges and improving soil, operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Reports indicate that all available funds were allocated within a mere six hours of the application window opening.
Farmers have voiced significant dissatisfaction with the process, employing terms such as 'shambolic,' 'disheartening,' and 'carnage' to describe their experience. This rapid closure has left many unable to access financial support for crucial environmental work.
Separately, the UK's reliance on imported baked beans remains a point of discussion. Currently, all baked beans consumed in the UK are sourced from countries including China, Ethiopia, the USA, and Canada. However, progress is being made towards domestic production.
Farmer Andrew Ward, based in Lincolnshire, has been working with the University of Warwick to develop a British-baked bean variety. This year, he has cultivated 42 acres of this variety, a substantial increase from his initial plantings in 2023.
