England
The Environmental Land Management (ELM) agricultural subsidy schemes for farmers and landowners in England consist of three complementary schemes:
- Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – focuses on making agricultural activities more sustainable. Initially launched in 2022, the SFI has been extended in 2023 and 2024 to include nutrient management, integrated pest management, hedgerows, arable and horticultural land, improved grassland and a low/no input grassland standard, precision farming, flood and water management and agroforestry. The SFI pays farmers and land managers to implement or maintain sustainable farming and land management practices that protect and benefit the environment, support food production and improve productivity.
- Countryside Stewardship (CS) – provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the natural environment. The scheme protects and enhances the environment by increasing biodiversity, improving habitat, expanding woodland areas, improving water quality, improving air quality and improving natural flood management. The government is evolving CS rather than building Local Nature Recovery as a new scheme, which was originally announced as part of the ELM schemes. There are plans to introduce Countryside Stewardship Plus to enable neighbouring farms to be rewarded for taking coordinated actions.
- Landscape Recovery – will support larger landowners or land managers wishing to make long-term and large-scale changes to land use (e.g. woodland planting, extensive peatland restoration) leading to significant environmental and climate outcomes.
Wales
In Wales, the Sustainable Farming Scheme is planned to launch in 2026. The scheme is expected to encourage Welsh farmers and land managers to farm in a way that promotes a range of environmental benefits, including carbon storage, soil improvement and water quality. Payments will be based on the principle of ‘public money for public goods’.
Scotland
New conditions for farming support payments in Scotland will be introduced from 2025, to help farmers and crofters cut emissions and help tackle climate change.
The criteria will also support farmers and crofters to meet food requirements sustainably, and farm and croft while working to protect nature. From 2025 farmers and crofters will be required to meet specific criteria to qualify for payments. Read the latest here.
Northern Ireland
Farm subsidies form part of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Payments to farmers are roughly equivalent to previous CAP payment levels.
There are several area-based schemes are currently available from Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).