Farmers' fury as £233m green farming fund is snapped up in under six hours, leaving thousands empty-handed

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026 · last updated 24 September 2026.

England's £233m Sustainable Farming Incentive budget was exhausted in under six hours on Tuesday, locking out thousands of farmers applying for the first time since the scheme closed abruptly in March 2025.

Thousands of English farmers were locked out of the government's sustainable farming incentive scheme after its entire £233m budget was exhausted in under six hours on Tuesday — applications opened at 10am and closed before 4pm. The National Farmers' Union has demanded urgent clarity from Defra, noting it had repeatedly warned that funding was insufficient. For many farmers, Tuesday marked their first opportunity to apply since the scheme shut abruptly and without notice in March 2025. The government said farmers had responded "in force" and promised further funding opportunities in 2027.

NFU vice-president Robyn Munt said the speed of the closure was "no surprise" given repeated warnings of unmet demand from farmers.

Wildlife Trusts agriculture lead Vicki Hird said the scramble for SFI funding was 'worse than the dash for Oasis tickets' and called the budget "inadequate for far too long".

RSPB sustainable land policy head Alice Groom called it "unprecedented," saying: 'We thought the money would go quickly but not necessarily in one day.'

BBC News - PoliticsFarmers' fury at online scramble for £233m funding MagzterSustainable farming fund runs dry after just six hours | The Guardian - newspaper - Magzter BusinessGreen'Insufficient budget': Latest Sustainable Farming Incentive round closes within hours as funding snapped up - BusinessGreen FarmingUKFarm groups condemn 'race for the fastest click' after SFI26 closure - FarmingUK North Devon GazetteDevon farmers left in limbo as £233m funding scheme sells out in six hours

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