The sudden closure caused confusion and unrest among farmers. Defra mistakenly rejected thousands of applications even though the scheme was formally still open. After protests and pressure from agricultural interest groups, Defra reversed this decision, granting many farmers access to the subsidies after all.
Farmers working through the SFI program on soil health, biodiversity, and nature management saw their plans threatened. The SFI was one of the Brexit solutions following the loss of EU agricultural subsidies after the UK’s departure from the European Union.
British farmers emphasize that the SFI program is essential to keep environmentally friendly farming financially viable. According to NFU chairman Tom Bradshaw, the restoration of the SFI program shows how important consistent government support is for sectors contributing to nature restoration and climate goals.
Several organizations, including the NFU, publicly pressured Defra to correct the error. This led the department to reconsider its decision. Defra has confirmed that farmers who were previously wrongfully rejected can still submit their applications.
The discussion about the SFI program comes at a sensitive time. Reports indicate that farmers are losing interest in organic production, partly due to the discontinuation of specific government support. Farmers feel abandoned by changing policies and lack of certainty.
According to The Telegraph, the withdrawal of subsidies for organic production has led to less enthusiasm for environmentally friendly farming. Farmers complain about unpredictable policy changes that pressure their operations. This is happening not only in Great Britain but also in several EU countries.