Great Massingham farmer says funding frenzy adds to pressure

Cath Crowther, the regional director for the CLA, said many other farmers found themselves in a similar position and called for more government funding to be announced in October’s budget.

“We know that there’s not much money out there, that health, defence, etc are all so important, but [so is] food production.”

Adrian Ramsay, the Green MP for Waveney Valley, said “a lot of farmers” had been frustrated by the SFI application process.

“There just isn’t the confidence the funding is going to be there in the years to come,” he added.

Farming Minister Stephen Morgan said he had “heard the concerns” of farmers who are “deeply disappointed.”

He said he was “determined to work closely with farmers as we learn lessons from this year” including “exploring alternatives to a first-come, first-served application process.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it would provide further information about funding applications in 2027 “soon”.

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