February 13: Farming Minister said giving notice on SFI closure would have led to a 'spike in applications'

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown analyses the fall out from the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), with the Farming Minister telling MPs that farmers were not given notice on closure as it would have led to a 'further spike in applications'. The National Trust says Defra's decision to close SFI to new applications will leave farmers facing a 'four month funding gap'. And she takes a look at the NFU's farmer confidence survey which is reportedly at an 'all time low'

Rachael Brown

13 March 2025 • 1 min read

READ LATEST NEWS STORIES:

It was not possible to give any further warning on SFI24 closure, says Farming Minister

Defra stops accepting new applications for SFI 24

Farmers brand Defra's update to stop SFI24 an 'absolute shambles'

National Trust says Defra SFI decision will leave farmers facing a four-month funding gap

NFU survey reveals farmer confidence hits all-time low

Efra chair demands answers from Defra over its response to the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Germany

Farming in Five: Chancellor accused of using Ministers as 'human shields' over IHT, Farmers take fate into their own hands by abandoning SFI, AHDB shares Farm Assurance Review response and next stage of Johne's disease plan is revealed

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown reports on the top stories from this week, including the Chancellor being accused of using Ministers as 'human shields' over Inheritance Tax changes, farmers take fate into their own hands by abandoning their SFI applications early despite waiting for offers to be made by the Government, APHA appoints former police chief as new chief executive, and Baroness Minette Batters asked to lead a review into farm profitability. Next week the latest on Donald Trump's trade tariffs and the impact on agriculture, new details revealed for the next stage of Johne's disease plan, and a petition to get farming on the curriculum aims to get 100k signatures

Rachael Brown

11 April 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five

April 9: Chancellor called out on not meeting farmer groups, Arla announces merger and MPs under fire for backing US trade deal

In today's Farming in Five, head of news and business Alex Black discusses Efra Committee chair Alastair Carmichael calling out the Chancellor over her refusal to meet with farming groups on Inheritance Tax Reform, Reform UK MPs are under fire for their backing of the inclusion of chlorinated chicken in a US trade deal and the UK dairy sector is set to adapt to trade tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.

Alex Black

09 April 2025 • 1 min read

Farming in Five

April 8: Farmers look at targeting local election venues and vegan activists hold protest outside Yorkshire dairy farm

In today's Farming in Five, head of news and business Alex Black discusses the latest plans from farmers protesting the family farm tax and the suggestion of targeting local election venues, animal rights activists hold a protest outside of a Northallerton Arla dairy farm with support from Heather Mills and Sir Keir Starmer is set to appear in front of the Liaison Committee today

Alex Black

08 April 2025 • 1 min read