Environemtal Schemes
Changes to Agricultural Support
The UK's departure from the EU has opened the doors to a new age of farm support which moves away from the Basic Payment Scheme and towards Payment of Public Money for Public Goods through the new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) and Productivity Grants.
Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS)
The CSS was introduced in 2015 and following changes in 2024, the Higher-Tier and Capital Grants sections remain open for applications in 2025.
The Scheme comprises of 3 'Tiers', a base tier consisting of capital only grants, a Mid-Tier covering a range of field parcel options and larger capital grants suitable for most farms (now closed to new applications), and a Higher Tier aimed at the most sensitive sites.
Capital Only Grants offer funding towards a range of capital options aimed at Water & Air Quality and Boundary improvements. Popular options include fencing, concrete yard renewal, roofing over manure or silage clamps, wall restoration and hedgerow gapping, laying or planting. Grants are now capped at £25,000 to 35,000 per sector in any one calendar year.
Mid-Tier Schemes offered both capital grants and annual revenue payments from a large range of options suitable to most farm types. This tier is now closed to new applicants with most revenue options offered under the new SFI scheme.
Higher-Tier Schemes can be complex, often involving vast areas, collaboration between farmers and common land or shared grazing. Specialist advice should be sought at an early stage as schemes often require PA1/2 feasibility studies before an application can be considered.
Application are by invite only for the Higher-Tier with Capital grants are opening up in summer 2025.
For a free initial discussion on the suitability of the scheme for your holding contact our office.
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
The SFI is the first level of the new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) to be launched, it opened from June 2022. The sustainable farming incentive rewards farmers for enhancing the environment. It is aimed at paying farmers to improve water quality, biodiversity and animal health and welfare while encouraging climate change mitigation. The focus on this initial release is on management options to improve soil health, nutrient management, pest management, hedgerows and farm wildlife.
The original Land Management options were based around Standards and Ambition Levels. These have now been replaced with a menu of Actions/Options available to all farmers. Changes in 2024 saw a further 50 options added with a move of many prescriptions from CSS Mid-Tier.
Not all land parcels have to be entered into an action. Different parcels can be entered into different actions depending on land type and some of the actions can overlap existing stewardship schemes where this does not create double funding.. To assist with cashflow this payment will be made quarterly starting three months after the agreement start date.
The SFI scheme closed in March 2025 without warning. Amendments are being proposed to the scheme with an altered version to be publicised in late 2025 and becoming available from 2026.
Contact our team to arrange an initial meeting to discuss how the scheme can work for your farm.
Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS)
The Governments flagship new support scheme which will aim to pay Public Money for Public Goods. Rolled out in phases from 2022 and comprising a range of levels, the scheme is designed to appeal to all farmers and land managers.
Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
The first level of the scheme, open on a rolling monthly basis, is the Sustainable Farming Incentive and is available to all farmers and landowners in England. It pays for sustainable practices based on the land type and have a range of levels to suit most farm types. Originally launched in 2022 and updated in 2023 and 2024 with additional options, the SFI 2024 scheme has more actions available with revised payments.
Landscape Recovery (LR)
The upper level of the scheme is designed for large scale and long term projects covering multiple holdings or large areas and involving collaboration between farmers. This will be the last part of ELMS to be launched.
Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL)
A scheme to help farmers adapt to the changes in agriculture. This scheme is aimed at upland farmers within a National Park or AONB, it will provide advice and funding for businesses to diversify incomes, prepare for ELMS and create more green jobs.