England’s farm support fund runs dry in six hours

By Pippa Neill, The Guardian

The Guardian reports that England’s 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive opened at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, and closed just six hours later after its entire £233 million budget was allocated. The program pays farmers to undertake government-approved environmental measures, including improving soils, habitats and water quality.

The extraordinary rush for funding highlights just how important these payments have become to farm finances. Farmers have faced drought, heat and rising fertilizer costs, while some sectors already depend heavily on public support to remain profitable. Critics say the first-come, first-served system will leave thousands unable to participate until 2027.

The episode also raises a broader question about Britain’s post-Brexit agricultural policy: while the government has moved away from traditional acreage-based subsidies, it has replaced them with environmental payments that are becoming an increasingly important source of farm income.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/22/england-farmers-miss-out-on-sfi-payments