A government decision to pause a sustainable farming funding scheme is presenting “major challenges” for South Yorkshire farmers, a charity has warned.
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) , which began in 2022, benefits farmers across the country by providing grants for efforts that tackle the climate crisis.
However, last week the Government paused the scheme and will not be accepting any new applications until spring 2026 – leaving a year-long funding gap.
This has left farmers frustrated with the Government’s decision and without essential funding.
Chief executive of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Liz Ballard said: “We are deeply disappointed by the UK Government’s decision to pause the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
“This move presents major challenges for the farming community in our area.”
National charity The Wildlife Trusts’ said the government’s decision came without warning and that without this essential funding nature friendly farming is not accessible.
According to gov.uk, the SFI pays farmers and land managers “to take up or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that: protect and benefit the environment, support food production, improve productivity”.
But with the incentive now on hiatus, there are now no Environmental Land Management schemes open to farmers and landowners leaving no definitive route to sustainable farming.
Barnaby Coupe, Senior Land Use Manager at the Wildlife Trusts said: “The Government’s decision to pause all applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has pulled the rug from beneath the feet of farmers who are trying to farm more sustainably.”
The Government said the initiative had resulted in more than 37,000 multi-year live agreements – and that “every penny” of all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers.
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: ”This Government is proud to have set the biggest budget for sustainable food produce in history, to boost growth in rural communities and all across the UK, under our Plan for Change.
“More farmers are now in schemes and more money is being spent through them than ever before. That is true today and will remain true tomorrow.”
