UNFORESEEN consequences of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) are a concern for independent agronomists who were briefed by Defra representatives on the updated 2024 scheme at their annual conference near Towcester recently.
An interactive poll before the SFI update session revealed the majority of Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) members are involved in applications, either taking control of the process or advising on most suitable actions.
The impartial advice provided by AICC is particularly important in the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) options within SFI, along with soil and nutrient management plans.
These aim to evaluate management practices and justify artificial input use, something AICC members are already practising on a day-to-day basis.
Attendees at the conference reported significant areas of arable land being taken out of food production and put into non-food producing SFI options.
Devastating impact
Whilst there is an acceptance that growers need to be incentivised to produce food more sustainably, there is a fear it could have devastating consequences for associated agri-businesses, including their own.
AICC chairman Andrew Blazey said like their clients, members need to adapt to the rapid change playing out in UK agriculture at present as new Government policy comes online.
“We’re already seeing this with our members being actively involved in SFI applications and our farmers are looking to us for advice on new technologies, and carbon capture and trading," he said.
“This is in addition to risk management and ensuring the crop production side of the business performs to is full potential.”
Buckinghamshire-based agronomist Andrew Cotton added that contractors and growers reliant on contracting their neighbour's farms could struggle to survive, where large areas of arable land are being put into SFI, which is increasingly common.
Once these businesses are lost, it would be very difficult for them to re-enter the industry owing to the ever-increasing cost of new machinery.
Defra’s Fiona James said the Government is keeping a watching brief on unintended environmental, economic or food production consequences with monitoring and evaluation programmes and would build up an evidence base over time using anecdotal evidence.
If Defra sees unexpected adverse impacts, the department would act promptly to address any critical issues.
More detail
Despite worries about SFI’s long-term impact, AICC members welcomed more detail following the 2024 update at the Oxford Farming Conference early last month.
Payment rates are now 10% higher on average, with new and updated actions to choose from.
New actions of interest to arable producers include precision farming adoption, with £27/ha paid for variable rate application of macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash.
There are also options aimed at reducing the quantity of herbicide active substances applied.
These include £43/ha for use of camera or remote sensor-guided herbicide applications, £150/ha for robotic mechanical weeding and £101/ha for robotic non-mechanical weeding with electric or laser weeders.
No-till action
For soil health, growers can claim £73/ha for no-till farming with the action requiring growers to direct drill straight into stubbles. Strip-till drills will not be eligible.
AICC adviser Peter Cowlrick raised another worry about unforeseen consequences from this option, suggesting that remedial cultivation might be required in some cases to improve water infiltration, particularly after a wet harvest where soil structure is compromised.
“Without it, there could be increased risk of run-off and elevated flood issues,” he added.
Defra’s SFI policy development lead Jonathan Marsden said they are aware no-till is not for everyone and the offer is primarily aimed at rewarding those already direct drilling their crops.
However, it could also encourage uptake where appropriate, with improved soil health and carbon capture key aims.
