Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier (CS MT) scheme extended

Farming minister Dame Angela Eagle has today confirmed the news and explained that the offer, worth up to £70 million, will support over 5,000 farmers who have been at the forefront of delivering food production alongside nature recovery. 

Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier provides a range of options and capital items that together help to deliver a broad range of environmental benefits. The main priorities are to protect and enhance the natural environment, in particular the diversity of wildlife and water quality. 

The funding is awarded to those who will make the biggest environmental improvements in their local area and demonstrate the best value for money, DEFRA explained. 

Farmers’ valuable environmental work recognised

NFU deputy president David Exwood has welcomed the news about the scheme rollover. He said: “We’re really pleased that DEFRA has listened and given certainty to so many farmers about the future of their environmental work for the year ahead. It recognises the valuable environmental work they have been delivering for many years. 

“This result is a culmination of months of campaigning by the NFU. In reality it means that agreement holders will be able to continue delivering everything from wildflower corridors and habitats for farmland birds to nurturing species-rich grassland.” 

Mr Exwood added that to ensure that farmers can continue to undertake these vital environmental projects as part of profitable, resilient businesses, transparency over budgets and timelines for the rollout of the new Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme is key.

‘Big win for nature-friendly farmers’

CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), Martin Lines, said that today’s announcement is a “big win” for nature-friendly farmers. 

“I’m really pleased to see the government has listened to our concerns and responded to what we’ve been calling for. It’s encouraging to see the minister recognise the need for certainty and continuity for farmers leading the way in delivering food security, nature recovery and climate resilience. 

“This financial commitment provides much-needed reassurance and stability for those farmers who have already invested in farming with nature. It’s a strong signal that the government remains committed to a farming transition that works for people, nature and the climate.

“We now look forward to working closely with ministers to ensure that future schemes, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive, continue to support and reward farmers for taking ambitious action for our environment,” Mr Lines continued.  

The NFFN CEO added that this extension represents an important step in ensuring farmers are not penalised for their environmental ambition and that it sends a clear message that nature-based farming is central to the UK’s food and climate strategy. 

‘Very good news’ for 5k farm businesses

Carter Jonas partner James Bradley added that the rollover of the scheme is “very good news” for the 5,000 farm businesses who were set to enter into a funding gap between the end of their current agreements and the opening of the new SFI scheme, which looks likely to be at the end of spring.

“Those farmers will be able to retain and replace the environmental goods that they have provided without the need to look for alternative income, which may have involved differing management. We will be advising clients to be ready to accept their extensions as soon as the opportunity arises in order to avoid funding delays.

“We hope that DEFRA will now recognise the issue facing farm businesses who remain in legacy Countryside Stewardship schemes where there is no mechanism allowing them to roll over into the SFI. For these businesses, a huge disparity in option payment values still exist,” Mr Bradley concluded.

‘Overdue decision’

CLA president Victoria Vyvyan said that the decision to extend the scheme is “overdue”, however, it means that farmers who have spent years restoring nature can keep going – protecting the wildlife and landscapes we all know and cherish.

“But it can’t end here,” Ms Vyvyan added. “It is now urgent that Labour sets out the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme to the end of this parliament. Without this, thousands of farmers will continue to face a funding gap that puts livelihoods and years of environmental progress at risk.

“These are world-leading schemes that could transform British farming – if only government gives them the backing they deserve.”

READ MORE: Govt called to consider Countryside Stewardship rollover agreements

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