Defra has been forced to reopen the SFI 2024 scheme to around 3,000 applicants, after a group of NFU-backed farmers threatened litigation over its decision to close the SFI without notice.
The government’s u-turn will allow applications to be made to the scheme by those who had started an application within two months of 11 March 2025, but who had not yet submitted their application.
However, while welcome for thousands of NFU members, the government’s announcement today doesn’t go far enough as it has stated there will be some restrictions on who can apply and what they will be able to claim.
The decision came after a group of farmers, supported by the NFU, wrote to the Defra Secretary of State to inform him of their intention to legally challenge his decision to close the scheme to new applicants without notice.
“This is a really critical time for the farming industry, and while today’s announcement falls short of what our members deserve, this issue highlights the NFU at its very best, working with its members to stand up for what we believe is right.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
One of the arguments raised by the group of farmers related to the assurance that Defra would give them six weeks notice of any intention by Defra to close the scheme to new applicants. This appears to have influenced the Minister’s to review his decision to close the scheme without notice, with the Minister admitting that a mistake had been made.
The farmers concerned received significant support from the NFU’s Policy and Legal experts, as well as funding support from the NFU’s Legal Assistance Scheme.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “The government’s abrupt and wholly unacceptable decision to close the scheme was always wrong. While it’s good to see an acknowledgement that the decision to close the scheme was flawed, we are disappointed by the constraints imposed which will still leave many farmers unfairly disadvantaged.
“This is a really critical time for the farming industry, and while today’s announcement falls short of what our members deserve, this issue highlights the NFU at its very best, working with its members to stand up for what we believe is right.”
What this means
The government will now allow further applications to be made under SFI24 for those who had started their application within two months of 11 March 2025, and who had not submitted the application by that date.
The RPA will invite those who started an application after 11 January to apply. There are circa 3,000 applications in this category.
Limited window to apply
Applicants will be given a limited window to apply. Eligible applicants will be given a six week window in which to make an application. Updates are planned around details of when the application window will open and close. We do not have details on the timelines.
There are restrictions. These are:
- only one application may be submitted per farm business
- agreements will be offered up to a max value of £9,300 per year for the duration of the agreement (excluding the SFI management payment). This is the median average agreement value for existing SFI24 agreements
- agreement holders will not be able to add more land to ‘rotational’ SFI actions after year one of their agreement.
