What the Latest SFI Developments Mean for Our Farming Community
Here at S Thorogood & Sons, rooted in family farming and wholesale supply, we understand how vital policy, funding and credible support are to growers and land managers across Britain. Recent announcements from DEFRA about the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have understandably caused uncertainty but they also mark a chance to refocus and move forward with purpose.
The Situation in Brief
In March 2025, DEFRA announced that new applications to the SFI scheme would be closed while existing agreements would continue to be honoured.
Then in May the department conceded there had been a technical error in the application portal which mis‑led thousands of applicants and put some in limbo.
While the scheme continues for those with live agreements (some 37,000 plus) the pause and the error have rattled confidence among growers and land managers.
Why This Matters to Growers and Wholesalers
For those farming, managing land or supplying produce across the chain, clarity matters. Reliable support influences decisions: what to grow, when to invest, and how to balance environmental and commercial goals. When a major scheme like SFI is paused or disrupted, it creates ripple effects — beyond just payments. From crop planning to storage, from labour to partnership, the gears of a farm business must continue to turn.
A Positive Lens: What We Can Take From It
1. Respect for Commitments Already Made
The good news is that for those with live SFI agreements the payments will continue under current terms. Growers who have already entered into multi‑year arrangements can take comfort that the scheme is still delivering.
2. An Opportunity to Shape What Comes Next
With DEFRA signalling a “reset” of the scheme and promising reforms that focus funds where they do “most for nature” and where farmers have less alternative income, the next iteration of SFI could be better aligned with practical farming and environmental delivery.
3. Reinforcing the Value of British Farming & Supply Chains
As a wholesaler with farming heritage, we see this as a moment to reaffirm the value of trust, transparency and collaboration in the supply chain. Growers doing the right thing for soil, water and biodiversity deserve frameworks that recognise that effort and reward it.
4. Planning With Purpose
Rather than seeing the pause purely as disruption, it is a reminder to plan strategically: review cropping, storage, sourcing and partnerships; reinforce your voice in policy conversations; and ensure business models remain resilient whether scheme support is steady or shifting.
What Growers Should Keep in Mind
Ensure you comply fully with any current SFI agreement and stay abreast of timelines for any revised scheme.
Track announcements from DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency so you know when applications reopen and what the criteria will be.
Consider your own business model: how will you continue to earn from both environmental and production outputs?
Engage with your supply chain, as wholesalers, we can support our growers by maintaining clear communication, reassuring customers and planning together for what comes next.
Keep sight of the bigger picture: sustainable food production, farming with nature and supplying high‑quality British produce all tie together. Schemes like SFI are one piece of that larger journey.
Looking Ahead
At S Thorogood & Sons we remain committed to working with trusted growers who farm with care, skill and dedication. These developments in policy are not simply background noise they are part of the landscape in which we all operate. By staying informed, proactive and resilient we can ensure that British farming continues to thrive, that our supply of quality produce remains strong, and that the farming community remains heard and supported.
In a time of change we reaffirm our roots: family‑farm values, wholesale integrity and a belief that the best of British produce comes from partnerships built on trust and purpose.