Farmers face a race to secure funding when the Sustainable Farming Incentive reopens – with warnings that the available money could be allocated within just 24 hours.

We look at how to prepare an SFI26 application, why growers should resist simply chasing grant money and what could happen to farmers whose existing agreements prevent them joining this time around.

Sugar beet growers face another period of uncertainty after price negotiations between NFU Sugar and British Sugar break down. With the 2027/28 contract heading to arbitration, we ask whether the crop can continue to earn its place in the rotation.

After one of the earliest maize harvests on record, we examine maize quality, forage shortages and why regular silage analysis could prove particularly important this winter.

And former farm minister Daniel Zeichner gives an extraordinary account of life inside Defra – including his claim that he knew nothing about the government’s inheritance tax changes until after they were announced in the 2024 Budget.

This episode is brought to you by Bayer Crop Science – weeding out uncertainty.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:09 – SFI26: will the money run out in 24 hours?
08:01 – SFI: preparing for the scramble
14:21 – Autumn drilling update: managing dry seedbeds
16:56 – Sugar beet price talks head to arbitration
20:50 – Does sugar beet have a future?
25:39 – Around the farming world
30:01 – Maize harvest: quantity versus quality
34:25 – Markets: livestock up, grain down and diesel jumps
36:46 – Daniel Zeichner: what really happened inside Defra?
44:20 – Abi Kay on an extraordinary interview

Special Guests

Chloe Timberlake – farm business adviser, Ceres Rural
Nick Scantlebury – senior farms manager, Elveden Estate
Neil Groom – maize specialist, Grainseed
Daniel Zeichner MP – former Defra farm minister
Abi Kay – Farmers Weekly chief reporter

Useful links

Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026
SFI26 Window 2 update
Sugar beet price arbitration
British Sugar’s Cantley plans
Bovine TB transmission research
Daniel Zeichner interview

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/

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