91热爆

Today we look at the Government's decision to close the Sustainable Farming Incentive to new applicants with immediate effect.

The SFI is a major part of the post-Brexit system of farm payments in England. The devolved governments in the other nations of the UK are developing their own schemes and in the meantime retain direct payments to farmers. In England those basic payments are being phased out and replaced by environmental payments.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive is one of the new schemes. It offered a range of options like improving soils, planting hedges or providing habitat for wildlife, for which farmers are paid.

Defra says the budget has been 'successfully allocated' and so no new applications will now be accepted. Details on a new SFI will be announced in the summer but applications may not re-open until next year.

Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers Union, says the news is a "shattering blow".

Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.