Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith has criticised the Government after the latest round of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) funding was exhausted within hours, leaving farmers who had spent weeks preparing applications unable to submit them.
The second SFI26 application window opened at 10am on Tuesday 22 September, with £233 million available to farmers across England. The entire budget was allocated within the same day and the application window closed at around 3.48pm – less than six hours after opening.
The scheme operates on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning farmers who were unable to get their applications submitted before the funding pot was exhausted have been left without access to the support they had been preparing to apply for.
For many farmers, preparing an SFI application involves reviewing land and farm records, selecting appropriate actions and working with their land agents. The sudden closure has therefore caused considerable frustration among those who had invested time and money preparing applications but were unable to secure funding.
Andrew Griffith MP is calling on Defra to explain how the process was managed and what consideration will be given to farmers who were ready to apply but missed out when the funding was exhausted.
Andrew Griffith MP said:
"The government’s handling of support for farmers is a farce. Yesterday the money available ran out in just a few hours leaving local farmers completely in the lurch.
Our nation's farmers have endured an exceptionally difficult year. Drought has affected yields and crop quality, while feeding and watering livestock has brought additional costs. Against that backdrop, farmers have also had to navigate an increasingly complex system of applications and paperwork to secure the support they need.
I am deeply concerned by the way this latest round of SFI funding has played out. Farmers were told they could apply, yet the entire £233 million pot was exhausted in less than six hours. For those who had spent weeks preparing their applications, this will understandably feel like a huge blow and will affect what they can plan for in the year ahead.
I am asking farmers across the South Downs in my constituency who have been adversely affected to contact me. I want to hear directly about their experiences so that I can take those concerns to Ministers and seek answers about what happened and what can now be done.
This will also be the main topic of discussion at my Farm to Fork meeting with local farmers next week."
