Defra answers farmers' questions about Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): part 2

This is our third question-and-answer session, hosted by The Farming Forum (TFF), putting a selection of your most-asked questions to Defra’s Programme Director for Future Farming and Countryside. It is a part 2 of a two part Q&A series. You can watch part 1 video here: /watch/8MVVZbIeu1zeV We invited farmers to submit their questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive to The Farming Forum’s director, Clive Bailye. Clive is joined by Janet Hughes, Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director. Find out the answers to your questions: 0.00– Introduction 4.32 - According to Defra's own website, the SFI is designed to 'pay farmers to manage their land in an environmentally sustainable way'. How exactly does this mesh with the recently announced Environment Agency restrictions on the use of farmyard manures on arable land? Sustainable farming requires the completing of the nitrogen cycle, how can farming be sustainable if it is prevented from spreading animal manure onto land destined for cropping? 6.28 - What do you consider to be the maximum acceptable percentage of the total budget to be spent on administration, support and compliance? And, what do you consider the minimum acceptable percentage of total budget going to farmers, who have forfeited this money? 7.33 - (2-part question) a) Can Defra give a categorical assurance that EIA legislation will not apply to land entered into ELMS et al? It seems that Natural England (NE) are attempting to use the EIA system to prevent land entered into long term environmental schemes from ever returning to its previous use, what do Defra have to say on this matter? b) What happened to 'Payment by results? 11.10 - Can we have a set of rules from government that we can actually work with? It seems SFI wants to encourage soil health with cover crops and organic manures and direct drilling. But we are told the Environment Agency (EA) are not wanting organic manures spread before sowing autumn crops. Why does buffering a watercourse pay so little? It must be a simple win ticking lots of boxes. Price it at a reasonable return for the farmer. 14.15 - Would more desires of the SFI be met, if farmers could elect to undertake individual actions (rather than grouped into progressive levels)?

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