Defra gives an update on Higher Tier
11th December 2024
The government has said a ‘new and improved’ Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier Scheme will open in 2025, following delays.
After a series of delays, the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme will now open in 2025, Defra has confirmed.
There will be an initial controlled roll out of the new Higher Tier scheme in 2025/26 and applications will be by invitation – on a rolling monthly basis.
The Rural Payments Agency will contact these farmers and landowners directly from 6th January 2025 to start the pre-application process, with first applications submitted in summer 2025.
More details on the timing and approach to widening applications will be published in 2025.
The NFU recently expressed “extreme concern” over reports that the scheme would not open until mid-2025, saying it would be another “hammer blow” for the fragile farming community.
A think tank, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said the delays to support schemes is a threat to hill farmers, who typically receive among the lowest incomes of all farm sectors.
There has also been concern over the recent pausing of capital grants schemes.
What’s changed?
Changes to the scheme will include new quarterly payments and a rolling application window so farmers can apply throughout the year.
There will be monthly agreement start dates rather than a single annual date and a more straightforward online application process.
There will also be new actions to improve flood resilience and species abundance, plus funding to secure enhanced environmental benefits and deliver for nature recovery, including sensitive areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
In total the scheme will offer 132 management actions and 151 capital items.
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Farmers whose Higher Tier agreements expire in 2024 will be offered mirror agreements lasting five or 10 years.
Those with HLS agreements expiring in 2024 will be offered two-year extensions, while those expiring in 2025 will be offered one or two-year extensions.
Farmers will be able to participate in both Higher Tier and SFI where they have land that is eligible.
Defra also announced an additional 14 SFI endorsed actions, which will be available from summer 2025, to enable farmers and land managers to contribute further benefits to grassland, heritage and coastal sites, among others.
Payments made in early December
In the first week of December, Defra said it had made payments worth £343 million, including:
- £222.8m to 19,400 Countryside Stewardship revenue customers
- £74m to 4,400 Environmental Stewardship customers
- £39m will be paid out for quarterly payments on SFI – covering over 8,000 agreements and including over 320 payments for customers who have new agreements under the expanded offer for SFI launched in the summer
- £7.4m to customers who have completed capital grants works.
The government also said it will set up a new British Infrastructure Council to steer private investment in rural areas including broadband rollout in our rural communities.
It’s developing a 25-year farming roadmap, focusing on how to make the sector more profitable, Defra concluded.
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply
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