Thousands of farmers across Somerset and Devon are breathing a sigh of relief after a major government U-turn, prompted by legal pressure from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), restored access to vital environmental funding under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
The SFI was a key part of the Conservative government’s post-Brexit farm support system, designed to reward farmers for practices that improve soil health, biodiversity, and water quality. It was meant to be the backbone of a new, greener agricultural future, until Labour abruptly slammed the door shut.
In March, Labour ministers quietly closed the scheme to new applicants with immediate effect, despite earlier promises to give six weeks’ notice. Over 3,000 farmers, many in the South West, were left in limbo, with partially completed applications and no explanation.
The NFU launched a legal challenge, arguing that the move was not only unjustified but unlawful. Today, the government conceded, admitting the closure had been handled wrongly. The application window has now been reopened for affected farmers to finish their submissions.
James Wright, Exmoor farmer and South West Chairman of the Conservative Rural Forum, welcomed the victory, but warned this should never have happened in the first place.
“This was a shambles. Labour pulled the rug from under thousands of farmers with no warning and no plan. That’s not how you treat the people who feed the country,” said Wright.
“Credit to the NFU for standing up and forcing a rethink. It’s a reminder that rural Britain can’t be an afterthought in Whitehall. If this is what Labour calls a ‘record investment’ in farming, then heaven help us when the cuts come.”
“The SFI should be a positive opportunity, but it must be reliable, properly funded, and available to every farm, Upland and Lowland, not just the ones that tick a civil servant’s box.”
James Wright is calling for future changes to the scheme to be made transparently, with clear timelines and proper consultation, so that farmers can plan with confidence.
