Caroline Nokes MP has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs after local farmers were unable to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26).
The second application window opened on 22 September at 10:00am and closed at 3:48pm, less than six hours later. Farmers who tried to apply reported repeated error messages, while others were working on their farms and returned to find the window had already closed. For some, it was their first opportunity to apply since the previous scheme closed in March 2025, and existing agreement holders were also seeking continued funding for environmental work already underway.
See the full letter below:
