Responding to Defra's announcement of the next stage in the roll-out of the Environment Land Management (ELM) programme, NFU Vice President David Exwood said: "It's encouraging that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for 2023 appears to be an improved, broader and more flexible offer, changes that the NFU has been asking for.

"Farmers and growers will need to take a close look at all the options being made available and consider how these can be applied on farm. Three of the SFI22 actions are being brought forward with the creation of standalone soil actions, while the introduction of a SFI management payment on moorland areas goes further to recognise the role hill farmers play in producing our food and looking after some of our most challenging and iconic farming landscapes. 

"We understand Defra intends to offer a 'smooth transition' for over 3000 farmers who joined the SFI22 scheme, which it is closing. We await the detail about what this transition will look like, but given their early commitment and the lessons learned, these farmers must be treated fairly and rewarded during the transition, should they wish to take up a SFI23 agreement.

"Defra has to get this right. If SFI and the wider ELM scheme is to be successful, it needs to be simple, flexible and provide certainty so there's widespread uptake. It's in all our interests to ensure sustainable, climate-friendly British farming, with farmers being paid to produce high-quality food alongside their work in managing and protecting the great British countryside."