OPINION Johann Tasker Sustainable farming incentive deserves closer scrutiny

Sometimes you wait ages for a reason to join an agri-environment scheme – and then 23 good reasons come along at once. At least that's what the government is hoping.

The 2023 iteration of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) includes 23 new options for farmers to look after the environment while producing food sustainably.

Launched to much acclaim by Defra farm minister Mark Spencer last month, the government hopes the scheme will prove attractive to those farmers who have so far left it well alone.

About 3,300 farmers signed up to the 2023 SFI. But way more are needed if Defra is to achieve its target of having 70% of farmers in the scheme within the next few years.

nutrient management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland.

When adopted at scale, these actions will support sustainable food production and contribute towards the government's environmental Optimising the use of nutrients, for example, will not only reduce carbon emissions but can also reduce farmers’ costs. But the scheme is less light touch than many thought it would be. Witness the 156-page handbook accompanying the launch.

The NFU rightly says Defra has to get the scheme correct. Applications for SFI 2022 have now closed with Defra promising a “smooth transition” for the 3000 or so farmers who applied.

Midland Farmer is a controlled circulation magazine published monthly for farmers and growers in the Midlands (Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) or companies supplying goods and services to the sector. To be included on the circulation list, a farmer must have a minimum of 70 acres of land, or 50 dairy/beef stock, or 50 breeding sows/250 growing stock, or 15,000 laying hens/broiler chickens. Intensive horticulture units are required to have a minimum of two hectares.

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Improvement

On paper, it looks attractive.

Farmers will get paid for taking actions that improve farm productivity and resilience, while also protecting and improving the environment.

Additional actions under SFI 2023 will help ensure there is an offer that is attractive and workable for all types of farms, says Defra.

The 23 actions on offer cover existing themes including soil health and moorland, as well as new actions on hedgerows, integrated pest management,

This process will need to align with the roll out of the SFI 2023 offer. The NFU says these farmers must be treated fairly during the transition, should they wish to take up a 2023 agreement.

If the SFI and the wider environmental land management scheme is to be successful, it must be simple, flexible and provide certainty to secure widespread uptake.

That means farmers must be properly rewarded – otherwise the scheme will fail to meet its goals of benefiting farm businesses and the environment.

Johann Tasker Editor