MID-TIER STEWARDSHIP EXTENSIONS

Defra has confirmed a one-year extension for over 5,000 farmers with Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements due to end in December 2025. Those eligible will receive letters in the coming weeks with details on how to accept the extension, which will roll their agreements forward into 2026 without the need to reapply. This move is welcome but has been necessary because of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) not likely to open before Spring 2026 and with Higher Tier being restricted to small numbers of applicants by invitation only.  This announcement offers no relief to farmers whose agreements expired in December 2024, many of whom were unable to apply for SFI due to land parcel blocking issues before the scheme closed in March. These farmers are now stuck in a funding gap with no clear way back into any support scheme. For more information on this announcement, please visit the following link:   Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament