SFI Update – decision to allow saved applications to proceed
Defra has confirmed that they will now accept applications for an SFI agreement from those that started and saved, but did not submit, an application in the 2 months leading up to the closure date. The detail is yet to come but we know from the Farming Minister’s announcement the following:
(a) only one application may be submitted per farm business,
(b) agreements will be offered up to a maximum value of £9,300 per year (excluding the SFI management payment, which would not count towards the value limit,
(c) agreement holders will not be able to add more land to ‘rotational’ SFI actions after Year 1 of their agreement.
The lobbying effort by the NFU, CLA, CAAV and others should be commended, but we believe there are many farming businesses that will still have missed out and that it was only the threat of legal action which forced Defra into this concession.
For further information, please get in touch with our Rural Professionals – West Kent team 01892 832 325, East Kent team 01303 814 444 or the Sussex team 01435 873 999.
