Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will open the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2027 in time for agreements to commence from 1 April 2027 and minimise gaps in environmental payments for farmers with schemes expiring after February 2027.

Defra is working to bring forward the 2027 SFI offer as early as possible and details will be published in due course. Eligible farmers who did not obtain an SFI26 agreement will have another opportunity to apply in 2027. Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier remains available through its expression-of-interest process for appropriate land and activities.