The application window for the scheme opened at 10am on Tuesday, September 22, and closed at 3.48pm the same day as the funds were quickly exhausted.
The SFI, part of England’s post-Brexit farming support, compensates farmers for activities that enhance soil, biodiversity, water quality, and other environmental benefits.
This was the first chance for numerous farmers to apply since the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) halted new SFI applications in March 2025.
Farmers now have to wait until the 2027 scheme for another opportunity to apply.
The rush for funding followed a tough summer, with extended heat and dry conditions impacting crops and grassland in parts of England.
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Jeremy Clarkson previously criticised the scheme (Image: Cheffins)
Amid concerns over demand, additional funds were made available for the 2026 scheme.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an extra £50m in August, with Defra later adding another £20m.
A total of £310m was set aside for new agreements across the two 2026 application windows.
The first window, which closed on August 28, was exclusive to small farms and those without an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement.
The second window, open to all eligible farmers and land managers, closed at 3.48pm on September 22 after the budget was fully allocated.
Defra stated that the additional funds allowed them to support as many agreements as possible.
However, farmers who were unable to submit their applications before the budget ran out will now have to wait until the 2027 scheme.
In April 2024, Jeremy Clarkson revealed he had entered land into the SFI scheme, finding it more profitable than food production.
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