Support for farmers welcome but SFI still “a million miles away”
14th September 2023
Farming groups have welcomed the package of measures announced by Defra on the eve of Back British Farming Day (12th September) to provide an uplift to the industry, but said more needs to be done to support producers currently facing a cash-flow crisis.
Further to the NFU calling on ministers to “do the right thing” and bridge the financial black hole in farm support caused by significant delays to the launch of SFI 2023, secretary of state Thérèse Coffey announced on Tuesday that farmers who are accepted into the scheme will receive 25% of their agreement’s value this year.
NFU president Minette Batters said the news will bring relief to many farmers, but stressed it doesn’t make up for the government failing on its promises to deliver a replacement for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) on time.
“While this announcement will provide welcome progress, it doesn’t go far enough to deliver on the promises made countless times that the replacement to BPS would be open to all, less bureaucratic and offer a profitable and seamless transition from old to the new. What we have today, after years in the making, is still a million miles away,” she said.
“In the short-term, we need the government to bridge the gap it has created in taking away one set of payments before delivering access to their replacements by ensuring farm support payments made in December are not capped as currently planned.”
Defra’s plans to accelerate SFI payments came alongside a number of new measures aimed to boost British farming, including support for a ‘buy British button’ in online supermarket shopping, a new grant scheme for rooftop solar panel installation, and a new £4m fund to help upgrade small abattoirs to improve animal welfare, business efficiency and productivity.
NSA chief executive Phil Stocker welcomed the announcements, and was especially pleased to see progress being made with SFI and helping farmers access public procurements markets.
Commenting on the latest changes to SFI, he said: “Speaking to many NSA members it is clear the principles are largely in line with our values and also the scheme seems to be working and encouraging ‘good actions’ on the farm.
“We look forward to SFI, Countryside Stewardship, and all the new Future Farming schemes being further developed and simplified in due course, and are keen to see more development of options for upland farmers based on ‘whole farm principles’ that support traditional sensitive approaches in the very near future,” Mr Stocker added.
Further clarity on buying British
The government backing calls for retailers to signpost customers to ‘Buy British’ when they shop online was also well received, with Mr Stocker pointing out the NSA has been campaigning for such a measure for a long time.
“Allowing consumers to have better, clearer access to British produce will be key in ensuring the environmental gains, public goods, and sustainable produce is clearly and readily available to consumers across the UK and boost our own self sufficiency and reduce our reliance on high environmental impact food imports,” he said.
Commenting on the announcement, NFU Scotland chief executive John Davidson added: “As part of today’s celebration, we very much welcome the petition led by NFU that seeks to stimulate more local sourcing by making it easier for the growing number of consumers who choose to do their grocery shopping online to buy local.”
He concluded the union will continue to work closely with retailers to further support our farmers, crofters, environment and the economy.
