The National Sheep Association (NSA) is today (Wednesday 30^th March) welcoming the updated guidance for farmers in England on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) from Secretary of State George Eustice. The Defra announcement also provided further guidance on autumn and winter muck spreading and support for using urea fertilisers.

Of particular relevance for sheep farmers within the guidance are rules for water which give clarity over the ability for farmers to spread muck during the autumn, and much needed detail on the SFI 2022 and Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Today's announcement also stated there is to be a one year delay on the proposed changes for the use of untreated urea as a fertiliser.  

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: "Following a year of strong sheep prices and significant optimism most sheep farmers are realising rapidly rising input costs, for not just fertiliser, feed and fuel, but all inputs, are meaning that strong sheep prices are essential just to stand still. This, combined with annual reductions in the Basic Payment and uncertainty over new Defra schemes is causing serious concern for many sheep farming businesses." 

The actions outlined in the update, and the enhanced details on the SFI 2022 are a welcome step forward. 

Mr Stocker continues: "The delays in introducing greater restrictions and controls over the use of urea will help many sheep farmers, and acceptance there is an agronomic need for manure to be applied during the autumn months, as climate change appears to be showing a shift towards longer grass growing seasons, is particularly welcomed. Significantly, this decision has also included an acceptance that done properly, manure applications in the autumn, present little risk to water quality."

The detail on the new scheme has been needed and is very welcome. NSA hopes it will go some way to giving confidence in new farming programmes. Following representations made by NSA, and others, making the case that the initial proposed rates for unenclosed moorland and commons were inadequate NSA is pleased to see these rates significantly increased. NSA also strongly supports measures to cover costs of planting clovers and nitrogen fixing plants. 

Mr Stocker concludes: "I see this as encouraging evidence that Defra is listening and want its Future Farming Schemes to work and help farmers keep farming. I hope this announcement is an indication of Government starting to take farming and food production more seriously and recognising its national strategic importance. There is still a long way to go through our Agricultural Transition and no question that many of our approaches to life, and to farming, will go through change. But that shouldn't mean that productive farming, with a positive impact on the environment and nature, isn't needed, and it seems certain we are entering a period when food security is recognised as every bit as important as protecting our natural resources."