NSA Chief Executive, Phil Stocker, said 'the NSA is pleased to see more detail announced for the new schemes and a more rounded offer becoming available. However, while this is welcome, much of the delivery detail still has to be developed and the pressure is now on to make sure these offers work in practice on farms and within the RPA.  I am pleased to see the option for farmers to choose or ignore any of the standards, giving them the decision making power to apply standards to whatever parts of the farm are most appropriate – this flexibility is essential and NSA supports the principle of firstly getting farmers engaged and involved and then expanding on the ambition. If farmers aren't engaged and supportive then little will be achieved.'

These announcements come after months of delays and drip feeding of information from government, under challenging circumstances for the industry.

Six additional standards have been announced to be added to the Sustainable Farming Incentive this year, meaning farmers can receive payment for actions on hedgerows, grassland, arable and horticultural land, pest management and nutrient management. They build on the three existing standards to improve soil health and moorlands introduced in 2022 – which nearly 1,900 farmers already have in agreements.  

Mr Stocker continues 'The detail behind the announced standards now has to be developed and finalised and the NSA is keen to work with Defra and others to help this to work. We are also welcoming the ability for farmers in HLS to also add new CS options and we hope this will help the upland livestock sectors. Overall this announcement should give farmers more detail with which to plan, although with a commitment for these schemes to be launched this summer it is essential that these timescales are met for any business planning to be of use.'