Farmers are ploughing up environmental features after thousands were shut out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive when funding ran out less than six hours after applications opened.

In this episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast, we hear from Lincolnshire farmer Charles Anyan as he returns buffer strips to wheat production following problems with his SFI application.

NFU vice-president Robyn Munt sets out what the union wants Defra to do next – including urgent clarity for farmers left without agreements and an earlier opening for SFI 2027.

Shadow farming minister Robbie Moore gives the Conservative response and argues that the government and Treasury must provide greater certainty over future funding.

And we visit the Allerton Project in Leicestershire, where a planned SFI agreement worth about £85,000 a year failed to get through.

Allerton head of sustainable farming Joe Stanley considers what the debacle means for environmental delivery – and whether private natural-capital markets can fill some of the funding gap.

Chapters

00:00 – SFI fallout: farmers start ploughing up environmental features
09:27 – Autumn drilling update: grassweed control with Bayer Crop Science
12:19 – NFU demands answers from Defra
25:41 – Political fallout from the SFI closure
37:18 – Markets: beef and sheep strengthen
39:42 – Allerton Project: £85,000 SFI shortfall
45:20 – What now for farm environmental policy?

Special Guests

Charles Anyan – Lincolnshire farmer
Robyn Munt – vice-president, National Farmers’ Union
Robbie Moore MP – shadow farming minister
Joe Stanley – head of sustainable farming, Allerton Project

Useful links

• Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 – scheme information
• Defra: SFI26 Window 2 update
• Defra: SFI26 Window 2 applications and statistics
• NFU: SFI scheme guidance and information
• Allerton Project

This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker.

To get in touch with the Farmers Weekly Podcast: -

Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/

Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/

Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/

For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly

To contact, sponsor or advertise on the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0.