'Shambolic' - Government has questions to answer over farming payments

The Government has serious questions to answer over its ‘shambolic’ handling of the rollout of this year’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26) funding, a senior Conservative has said.

The £253 funding allocation was entirely spent within six hours of opening for applications last week, leaving thousands of farmers high and dry.

Designed to replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy funding after Brexit, SFI pays farmers to look after soil, nature and other public goods, rather than simply operating their farm for maximum profit.

This was the first time farmers could apply for the scheme since it was controversially shelved at short notice in 2025. The Government has said farmers will be able to apply for the funding next year.

Now, the Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton Kevin Hollinrake has joined the Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins in writing to her opposite number Angela Eagle to demand answers.

The letter, which has been made public, states: “Following the shambolic management of SFI26, we are writing to express our deep concern and anger at the way the scheme has been designed, managed and communicated over the past 18 months.

"From the unexpected closure of SFI24, the effective removal of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the preventable turmoil witnessed on September 22, your decisions have resulted in a process that farmers have described to us as ‘demeaning’, farcical’ and ‘disastrous’.

"Farmers and land agents dedicated countless hours, over many weeks considering and preparing their SFI26 applications, only to be let down by an inadequate system and insufficient budget.”

Speaking about the letter, Mr Hollinrake said: “I’ve heard directly from farmers across my constituency who spent considerable time preparing applications, only to miss out when the scheme closed within hours, with some also experiencing technical problems.

“The handling of this has been an absolute shambles. Farmers need certainty and a system that works, not more frustration and disruption at an already difficult time.”