Farmers angry at closure of green payments scheme

Farmers across the North East and Cumbria have criticised the government for the sudden closure of a flagship payments scheme.

On Tuesday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced it would not take any more applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) which pays farmers for nature-friendly farming.

Northumberland farmer Katherine Singer said she was "absolutely devastated" and had "hardly slept" since she heard the news.

Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: "More farmers are now in schemes and more money is being spent through them than ever before."

The government said "every penny in all existing SFI agreements" would be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible applications would also be taken forward.

Nature-friendly farming involves practices such as planting wildflower strips and managing ponds and hedgerows.

Mrs Singer, who farms in Upper Coquetdale with her husband Chris, said they had been planning to apply for a SFI to boost their farm income next year.

"Our cashflow for our farm for the next 12 months has just gone up in the air, and I feel gutted, just absolutely devastated, we're the third generation on this farm and we want to stay here," she said.

"My daughter is going to agricultural college but I'm so worried for her future."

Rod Smith, who farms 1,000 acres (405 hectares) at Beal, overlooking Holy Island in Northumberland, said his reaction to the announcement was "pure anger and disbelief".

Mr Smith had been planning to apply for an SFI which would enable him to plant a crop which would improve the quality of his soil.

"Now we can't do that, we've just been left high and dry," he said.

Chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network James Robinson, who has an organic diary farm near Kendal, Cumbria, said the government was "closing the door on farmers".

"The SFIs helped create a fantastic landscape for nature and tourists it was public money for public good," he said.

"I really do worry about the mental health of farmers because we are under so much strain."

National Farmers' Union president Tom Bradshaw said: "This is another shattering blow to English farms, delivered yet again with no warning, no understanding of the industry and a complete lack of compassion or care."

Zeichner told the Commons the government planned to "redesign" the programme and said previous schemes had "no way of prioritising properly" the farmers who received support.

He said "many, many farmers are now in these schemes and benefiting from them", before adding a future programme could "properly be managed".

He also told MPs that the "budget has been spent" for the SFI and a responsible government had to respond to that.

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