GLASTONBURY & Somerton MP Sarah Dyke raised the cancellation of a farming incentive scheme at PMQs on Wednesday (March 12).
The Liberal Democrat MP asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to assure farmers who will now miss out on funds from the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme they would not be left “left stranded” after the sudden closure of the scheme to new applicants this week.
She asked the Prrime Minister: “Yesterday with no notice, Defra closed SFI applications, leaving thousands of farmers who want to deliver public goods waiting for a year without support.
“So can the Prime Minister assure British farmers that they won’t be left stranded, unable to support environmental and food resilience goals due to lack of government support?”
READ MORE: MP Anna Sabine slams “cowardly” move to close farm funding scheme
The PM said previous schemes had been closed by the Conservative government and replaced with others, and that details of new schemes would come after the Spending Review – but provided no further details.
It comes after the sudden closure of the scheme this week, which has left farmers who had planned to apply for SFI funding without financial support for at least a year – jeopardising their ability to implement vital environmental measures, Ms Dyke said.
After PMQs, she added: “Farmers are already under immense pressure from spiralling costs, extreme weather, terrible trade deals, and the after-effects of years of disastrous Conservative farming policy and agriculture budget under-spend.
“This decision has blindsided those relying on the Sustainable Farming Incentive to implement sustainability practices and risks undermining our environmental and food resilience goals. The Government must urgently provide clarity and ensure that those affected are not left without the support they need.”
Ms Dyke followed up on her PMQs statement by pushing the Minister of State for Defra on further support for vulnerable farmers who would be affected by loss of SFI funding.
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