CENTRAL Devon MP Sir Mel Stride met the NFU and local farmers in Crediton this month to hear their concerns about the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

The main issue raised was the way the latest application window was run. It opened at 10am on September 22 and shut at 3.48pm the same day, once the £233m budget ran out. No opening time was announced in advance.

This meant applications went to whoever was at a screen first, not to the farms with the best plans. Many farmers in the area had spent weeks preparing, only to find the scheme had closed while they were out with livestock or in the fields.

Those who missed out now face waiting until 2027, with no income from the scheme until then.

Sir Mel said: "It was good to meet the NFU and local farmers in Crediton and hear their concerns first hand. Their main worry is the Sustainable Farming Incentive and the way the latest window was handled. It opened and shut in a single day, and nobody was told in advance when it would open.

"Many farmers here spent weeks getting their applications ready. Then they found the scheme had closed while they were out with their livestock or working in the fields. Farmers should not lose out because they were doing their jobs."

Sophie Herd, Devon County Adviser of the NFU, said: “This meeting provided local farmers with the opportunity to speak directly to Sir Mel about the realities and confusion that has been sweeping the farming community in the latest rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive. We look forward to continued cooperation with Mel over this issue and that the concerns of our members will result in change from the government.”

Sir Mel is pressing ministers in Parliament to put this right for those farmers who missed out.