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<p>The Government has no plans to pause the phasing out of Basic Payment Scheme payments.</p><p>
</p><p>Our priority is to roll out Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in a way that
ensures the service works as straightforwardly as possible for all our customers and
aligns with the closing date for Countryside Stewardship.</p><p> </p><p>The SFI 2023
scheme has been expanded and made more flexible in response to farmers’ feedback.
There are 23 actions on offer under the new and improved 2023 scheme, including on
soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer
strips, and low input grassland.</p><p> </p><p>The scheme will open for applications
from 18 September. Before then farmers can contact the Rural Payments Agency to join
the thousands of farm businesses that have already expressed their interest in applying.</p><p>
</p><p>Recently, we have run an extensive communications and engagement programme
with farmers and farming organisations, including through webinars and our presence
at agricultural shows. This has enabled us to promote the options available to farmers
and feedback is of increased awareness and interest in what is on offer.</p><p> </p><p>Information
on the scheme is available in one handbook and on 10 August we published voluntary
‘How to Guidance’ which farmers can follow if helpful for them. We know that applicants
to date have welcomed the simple, automated online application process which again
will support uptake in the coming months.</p><p> </p><p>We know the importance of
getting agreements and payments out as quickly as possible, which is why we’ll be
working to get as many people as possible on board as quickly as possible after 18
September. What is more, in recognition of the challenges faced with inflation and
rising input costs, the Government has confirmed farmers will receive a payment in
the first month of their SFI 2023 agreement to help with cashflow.</p><p> </p><p>We
remain committed to our target of 70% of farms and farmland being in schemes by 2028.</p>
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