The Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 scheme, which pays farmers in England to take actions that support food production, farm profitability and resilience, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment, is now open for applications.
This follows the news, announced earlier this month, that farmers with a live 2023 agreement before the end of the year will receive an early payment – worth 25 per cent of the value of their agreement – in the first month of their agreement. The remaining payments will be made on three further occasions throughout the year, aiding cashflow and ensuring farmers have greater flexibility.
Thousands of farm businesses have already registered their interest with the Rural Payments Agency, and those with Sustainable Farming Incentive 2022 agreements are being encouraged to register for 2023 as well.
Every farmer who applies and is eligible will get an agreement under the new Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023, with no upper limit on the number of agreements that the Government will issue this year.
This initiative is the latest from the Government as it continues to meet its obligation to maintain the annual farming budget of £3.1 billion per year across the UK.
Julian Smith said, “The Government has long recognised the importance of supporting our farmers to produce food in an economic and environmentally sustainable way.
“The Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 has been improved on last year’s scheme, with greater flexibility, a rolling application window and simplified process, reliable income, easier integration with other schemes, and more.
“I would strongly encourage farmers across Skipton and Ripon to register their interest."
