New initiative will provide ‘essential funding bridge for farmers’, says rural group

As details have been published of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), CLA President Mark Bridgeman said:

“For months, we’ve been calling for details of how the new Sustainable Farming Incentive will work in practice. News that hundreds of farmers will be involved in the first phase of piloting is one we fully support. The pilot is an important part of the process before the early introduction of parts of the SFI for all farmers from 2022, and we encourage eligible farmers and land managers to offer to take part.

“With the first cuts in BPS taking effect this year, and businesses set to lose at least 50% of their payments by 2024, the SFI will provide an essential funding bridge for many farmers and contribute to more environmental farming practices. This makes it even more important that the design and administration is well tested during this pilot phase to ensure it is right when introduced next year.”