51AV视频

Martin Lines: "The closure of SFI has highlighted just how fragile the current system is"

Mr Lines, chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, writes about Defra鈥檚 sudden SFI closure, how farm support payments are 'failing' farmers, the urgent action needed and why farmers cannot wait 18 months

Chris Brayford
clock 鈥� 4 min read
Martin Lines, chief executive at the Nature Friendly Farming Network said: "With no new scheme available until 2026, thousands of farmers are left wondering how to keep their businesses viable in the meantime. Waiting 18 months for a new scheme simply is not an option."
Image:

Martin Lines, chief executive at the Nature Friendly Farming Network said: "With no new scheme available until 2026, thousands of farmers are left wondering how to keep their businesses viable in the meantime. Waiting 18 months for a new scheme simply is not an option."

Sustainable Farming Incentive Last week's sudden closure of applications to the 2024 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) took everyone by surprise, leaving many farmers in limbo. Some were on the...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358
Join Now

听

BNG Habitat Bank Creation & Unit Sales

拢笔翱础

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

拢笔翱础

WATER ABSTRACTION LICENCES FOR SALE

拢笔翱础

More on Politics

From the editor: Standing up for British farmers
Politics

From the editor: Standing up for British farmers

This week from Farmers Guardian editor Katie Jones

Katie Jones
Katie Jones
clock 09 October 2025 鈥� 2 min read
Labour and Plaid Cymru vote against Welsh Conservative calls to scrap SFI
Politics

Labour and Plaid Cymru vote against Welsh Conservative calls to scrap SFI

Today (October 8), the Welsh Conservative called for the Sustainable Farming Scheme to be scrapped as it will supposedly result in the loss of over 1000 Welsh farms

Mia Willemsen
clock 08 October 2025 鈥� 2 min read
Conservative Party Conference: Debate sparks question on whether landowners should be taxed for taking farmland out of production for solar
Politics

Conservative Party Conference: Debate sparks question on whether landowners should be taxed for taking farmland out of production for solar

Governments present and past have told farmers they are custodians of the countryside for the work they do to maintain landscapes and safeguard food security. But the drive for Net Zero and the number of solar developments in the countryside has led to farmers wondering if they are now going to be custodians of solar?

Chris Brayford
Chris Brayford
clock 08 October 2025 鈥� 4 min read