Defra outlines current payments and upcoming changes to Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
The government has been keen to stress that it has injected more than £343m into the rural economy in the first week of December, benefiting more than 31,000 farmers.
The figure includes payments worth £223m to Countryside Stewardship revenue customers, and £74m to Environmental Stewardship customers, administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
The government pointed out again that it is providing over £5bn to the farming budget, which it described as “the largest-ever increase investment in sustainable food production in our country’s history”.
Ministers have also this week announced new details on how farmers will benefit from what they described as “improved and optimised” farming schemes. A new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme will open in 2025, providing new quarterly payments designed to improve farmers’ cashflow and a rolling application window so customers can apply throughout the year.
It also includes new actions to improve flood resilience and species abundance, as well as funding to secure enhanced environmental benefits and deliver for nature recovery, including sensitive areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
CSHT will open through an initial controlled rollout designed to ensure everyone gets the necessary support. Initially, applications will be by invitation, on a rolling monthly basis.
RPA is also publishing an additional 14 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)-endorsed actions, which will be available from summer 2025 to enable farmers and land managers to contribute further benefits to grassland, heritage and coastal sites, among others.
Defra secretary Steve Reed said: ”Our commitment to farmers is steadfast. That is why this government is working hard to get money into farmers’ bank accounts as well as announcing today how farmers can benefit from the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme, with more flexible actions, improved payments to help cashflow and a rolling application window.
“As we set out our Plan for Change, we are focused on supporting our farmers, supporting rural economics growth and boosting Britain’s food security.”
Reed added that as part of its New Deal for Farmers, the government will set up a British Infrastructure Council to steer private investment in rural areas including broadband rollout in rural communities.
It is also developing a 25-year farming roadmap, focusing on how to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come.
