AFTER experiencing the fiasco of applying for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 to support nature on our farm, I am forced to ask one fundamental question. Where has all the money gone?

The old Basic Payment Scheme gave over £2 billion pounds to farmers, this in my opinion was rightly removed, but all the main political parties agreed that the money should be used to support nature and to help improve the welfare of the stock and indeed the land.

With that in mind...

Every year around £330 million is being given out through SFI to help nature, giving a total budget of around £1 billion.

There is also around £300 million per year being given in capital grants.

So the question is, where has the £500 to £700 million that used to be in the Basic Payment Scheme gone?

And as far as I can see, it has not been used in any other farming budget to help nature or productivity.

Perhaps our rural MP’s could find out the answer?

Glyn Comont

Crediton