Sustainable farming scheme reopens after government U-turn

On Monday 12 May 2025, Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner MP announced that around 3,000 farmers will be given a second chance to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), after the scheme’s abrupt closure in March left many unable to apply for funding.

DEFRA had promised applicants six weeks’ notice before any changes to the SFI scheme, but it closed without warning, leaving those who had started — but not submitted — applications unable to complete them. Initially, DEFRA said only fully submitted applications would be honoured.

The decision sparked backlash from the farming community and the National Farmers' Union (NFU), which threatened legal action over the government's failure to follow its own notice policy.

In response, the government will now allow farmers who began their applications within two months of the scheme's closure to submit them. However, certain restrictions will apply:

• Applications must have been started on or after 12 January 2025
• Only one application per farm business will be accepted
• Funding will be capped at £9,300 per year (excluding the SFI management payment)
• No additional land can be added to ‘rotational’ SFI actions (e.g. cover crops) after the first year

The move marks a significant reversal by DEFRA and offers a partial resolution for farmers caught off guard by the unexpected closure of the scheme. The full announcement is available on the UK Parliament website.

Will White, Sustainable Farming Campaign Coordinator at Sustain, said, 

“It’s welcome news that farmers who were misled by the government's assurances before the abrupt scheme closure can now complete their applications. However, DEFRA must learn from this experience and ensure any future closures or changes provide sufficient notice, allowing farmers  - who are already under real economic strain - to plan their finances effectively.”

Read our briefing on how the government could improve payments for small farms