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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where the £210 million difference between the value of expiring agreements, estimated at over £520 million, and the £310 million budget for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 will be spent.

The estimated value of expiring agreements does not translate directly into equivalent demand for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26). Farmers may choose different actions, levels of coverage, or alternative, better suited, schemes. SFI26 is one part of a broader farming offer. In 2026, the Government has accepted applications for £788 million of new funding opportunities for farmers, representing around £1.6 billion over the lifetime of agreements. This includes £310 million for new SFI26 agreements, alongside funding for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, ELM Capital Grants, the Farming Innovation Programme, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, and Farming in Protected Landscapes.