Don’t cut the nature-friendly farming budget, warn farmers and environmentalists

Following the sudden closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme to new applications on Tuesday 11 March, there are growing fears that there may be wider cuts to the nature-friendly farming budget.

In a letter to Rachel Reeves on 25 March, over 50 organisations warned that cuts to investment in sustainable agriculture would risk undermining progress to restoring rivers, landscapes and wildlife, as well as harming farming businesses and food security. Signatories of the letter included the Wildlife Trusts, the National Trust, the Woodland Trust, RSPB, Soil Association, the National Farmers Union, and Sustain.

YouGov polling, commissioned by the Wildlife and Countryside Link, found that cuts would be unpopular with the public, too. Only 13% thought that the government made the right decision to suspend the SFI scheme. The majority of people thought that increased spending on nature-friendly farming would have a positive impact on wildlife (73%), as well as food security (51%) and rural communities (57%).

Will White, Coordinator of the Sustainable Farming Campaign, said,

"This letter sends a strong collective message to the Chancellor. Cutting the nature friendly farming budget would be disatrous for the sector, and undermine the governments own targets on nature, climate, and long term food security. The government must maintain investment in nature friendly farming if it wants to deliver sustainable long-term growth to the overall economy."