With applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 expected to open in September, there is growing concern about how new agreements will interact with existing SFI and Countryside Stewardship schemes. This lack of clarity is making it increasingly difficult for farmers and land managers to make informed business decisions, particularly where long-term land use and funding commitments are involved.

Over 600 farmers and rural professionals attended a recent webinar hosted by Laurence Gould in collaboration with Farmers Weekly. The session focused on the latest developments in the Sustainable Farming Incentive and related environmental schemes, highlighting the strong level of interest and concern across the sector.

Attendees received a comprehensive update on the current position of SFI, including key timelines and application procedures. The webinar also covered other important schemes, such as Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, and ELMS Capital Grants.

One attendee commented that the webinar “provided a very useful summary of the current position with SFI and the timelines and procedures for new applications along with information on other schemes such as Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Farming Equipment Technology Fund, ELMS Capital Grants.”

Keith Leddington-Hill, Managing Director expressed his appreciation for the strong engagement:

“We were delighted to welcome over 600 attendees to the live webinar. The volume and range of questions from farmers was significant. The overwhelming concern raised during the session is how to approach SFI 2026 applications this September, particularly for those who already have existing SFI and Countryside Stewardship schemes in place.”

The webinar is now available to watch on demand for the next four weeks, offering those who were unable to attend live the opportunity to access the full discussion and insights.

Farmers and land managers seeking further information or tailored advice are encouraged to get in touch with the team directly.