Growers Warn Funding Cuts Will Drive Them Back to Intensive Methods

Farmers across England are raising the alarm ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s spending review today, warning that the withdrawal of post‑Brexit environmental subsidies will force a return to intensive farming.

In a letter to DEFRA, more than a dozen leading rural organisations—including the CLA, National Trust and RSPB—describe the impact of possible cuts as “catastrophic” for both nature and farming livelihoods.

A recent CLA poll of 460 members suggests that 88% would revert to intensive methods if the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship Higher‑Tier (CSHT) schemes lose funding.

CLA vice‑president Joe Evans emphasised:“If funding is withdrawn from the schemes, almost all our farmers will have no choice but to return to intensive farming — and it will become the latest betrayal from a government that promised it was here to help, not make things worse.”

Organic farmer James Cameron, 64, who runs a 650‑acre farm in Wiltshire, echoed the fears:“Our entire financial model depends on this scheme… We may have no choice but to re‑adopt intensive farming practices just to stay afloat.”

Why It Matters

The SFI and similar schemes pay farmers for habitat restoration, hedgerows and wildflower margins, rather than simply for crop yields.

The Chancellor has pledged £5 billion in farm funding for 2024–26, but many expect widespread cuts to begin after 2026, with support increasingly limited to smaller farms.

Critics warn that diverting funds from large‑scale schemes could undo biodiversity gains and threaten the UK’s legally binding 2030 nature‑recovery targets.

The National Farmers’ Union’s president, Tom Bradshaw, warned: “Farmers will be left prioritising economic returns and balancing tough choices… just to make a living.”

Government Response and Legal Repercussions

Earlier this year, DEFRA was forced to apologise and reopen applications for around 3,000 farmers after abruptly halting the SFI without notice in March – a move later ruled unlawful.

Environment Minister Daniel Zeichner has confirmed that a revamped SFI—potentially excluding wealthier farms—is expected to launch after the review.

What’s at Stake

Biodiversity: Without funding, habitat gains risk reversal, threatening wildlife recovery efforts. Farm Economics: Many farmers report the subsidies are essential to maintain environmental measures.

Confidence: Sudden policy U‑turns have shaken farmer confidence, undermining trust in government support.

Ultimately, cutting funding for nature-friendly farming risks dismantling years of hard-won environmental progress and undermining the very practices that have positioned British agriculture as a global leader in sustainable land management.