Farm businesses are now having to make business-critical decisions that will shape not only their own futures, but also the UK’s food production and the management of its landscapes.
However, significant uncertainty remains around how ELMs (Environmental Land Management schemes) are being delivered in practice.
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt said recent engagement with farmers and delivery bodies has highlighted a worrying disconnect.
“Over the past few months,” she said, “I have travelled across the country speaking directly with farmers about their experiences of ELMs, as well as with officials from Defra, the RPA and Natural England about ambitions and expectations for agri-environment schemes.
“Four years since the initial ELMs rollout began, the feedback from farmers is deeply concerning.”
Robyn Munt, NFU Vice-president
“Four years since the initial ELMs rollout began, the feedback from farmers is deeply concerning.
“There remains a clear and significant gap between the government’s ambitions and the level of urgency, clarity and accessibility farmers need to feel confident in these schemes and understand whether they are right for their businesses.”
The NFU’s key asks
In both the meeting held with the minister, NFU President Tom Bradshaw and Vice-president Robyn Munt on 3 June, and in the follow-up letter sent to Dame Angela Eagle, the following points were discussed:
Clarity on SFI rollout and budgets
Farmers need clarity on the SFI scheme rollout in 2026 and 2027, along with transparency on budgets, so farmers can plan and take part with confidence.
Smooth transition for expiring agreements
Farm businesses need a smooth transition into new schemes for the 28,000 legacy agreements which expire this year, to ensure environmental delivery isn’t disrupted.
Simpler Higher Tier offer
There is the opportunity to introduce a streamlined CSHT-lite (Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier ‘lite’) scheme that would reduce bureaucracy and increase wider uptake.
Inclusion of common land
There is a need for a practical solution to bring common land into SFI and CSHT, so upland farmers can deliver environmental outcomes as part of viable, food-producing businesses.
Farmers are ready – but need confidence
Despite the challenges, the NFU says farmers remain committed to delivering for the environment.
Robyn Munt pointed to visible progress already being made on farms across the country, from thriving hedgerows and wildflower margins to increasing farmland bird activity this spring.
Farmers care deeply about the environment in which they work. This is evident in the thousands of acres of hedgerows alive with biodiversity, the colourful wildflower margins growing alongside crops and the number of farmland birds nesting this spring. There is a clear appetite to do more.
“In February, farmers were given assurances by the Defra Secretary of State that the government is ‘committed to giving clarity and stability’ to the agriculture industry. While confirmation of the June SFI 2026 application window is welcome, significant question marks remain. To provide that clarity promised, Defra must now set out how the budget will be split between application windows and confirm the timing of the second window, giving farm businesses the information they need during a busy farming period,” she said.
The NFU will continue to call for clarity from government so that farmers can plan confidently.
Get more on agri-enviornment schemes
