Environmental Scheme Update - Act Now
November 2025
By Abbie Lewis BSc (Hons), MRICS FAAV, Rural Surveyor
As many will be aware, DEFRA are currently offering one-year extensions to Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreement holders who had agreements set to expire in December 2025.
The extension has been offered as the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for 2026 are continuing to be developed. The desired outcomes of this extension is that the additional year ‘will help maintain essential sustainable food production and restoration of nature’.
So, what is included & how can I accept the extension?
Any extension accepted will continue under the same conditions of the existing agreement. You will be unable to add, remove or replace options or capital items in the existing agreement. Any capital works not completed by the time the extension starts will be removed from the agreement and options with a duration of less than 5 years cannot be included either.
All extensions will be sent to the registered email by the 6th November 2025 and extensions must be accepted by the 27th November 2025.
If you have not heard from the RPA by this date then please do contact your local GTH agent who would be happy to contact them on your behalf.
Moving forwards
This is a welcomed announcement following a period of such uncertainty and deafening silence. It has been difficult to advise clients what may be going to happen when this income stream came to a halt at the end of this year, at least now there is security for another 12 months whilst they continue to work up the new schemes.
The previous SFI has been closed since March 2025 for new applications, due to a record number of applications. The RPA are intending to bring out a ‘reformed SFI scheme’, but what this will look like and when exactly applications will be able to be made, we do not know. Once we have additional information on this, we will endeavour to advise our clients accordingly.
We would encourage clients to contact us as soon as possible if they have any questions, queries, concerns or would like to discuss the implications to their personal situation. Windows of opportunity seem to be narrower now than they have ever been, with schemes opening and shutting with little or no notice, so having an agent poised and ready to submit an application is more important now than ever.
Contact your local specialist rural agent to discuss your requirements or speak with Abbie Lewis on 01278 410250 or [email protected] for further information.
As many will be aware, DEFRA are currently offering one-year extensions to Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreement holders who had agreements set to expire in December 2025.
The extension has been offered as the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for 2026 are continuing to be developed. The desired outcomes of this extension is that the additional year ‘will help maintain essential sustainable food production and restoration of nature’.
So, what is included & how can I accept the extension?
Any extension accepted will continue under the same conditions of the existing agreement. You will be unable to add, remove or replace options or capital items in the existing agreement. Any capital works not completed by the time the extension starts will be removed from the agreement and options with a duration of less than 5 years cannot be included either.
All extensions will be sent to the registered email by the 6th November 2025 and extensions must be accepted by the 27th November 2025.
If you have not heard from the RPA by this date then please do contact your local GTH agent who would be happy to contact them on your behalf.
Moving forwards
This is a welcomed announcement following a period of such uncertainty and deafening silence. It has been difficult to advise clients what may be going to happen when this income stream came to a halt at the end of this year, at least now there is security for another 12 months whilst they continue to work up the new schemes.
The previous SFI has been closed since March 2025 for new applications, due to a record number of applications. The RPA are intending to bring out a ‘reformed SFI scheme’, but what this will look like and when exactly applications will be able to be made, we do not know. Once we have additional information on this, we will endeavour to advise our clients accordingly.
We would encourage clients to contact us as soon as possible if they have any questions, queries, concerns or would like to discuss the implications to their personal situation. Windows of opportunity seem to be narrower now than they have ever been, with schemes opening and shutting with little or no notice, so having an agent poised and ready to submit an application is more important now than ever.
Contact your local specialist rural agent to discuss your requirements or speak with Abbie Lewis on 01278 410250 or [email protected] for further information.