Alistair Strathern MP warns sustainable farming schemes risk failing smaller farms

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

FRIDAY 5^th SEPTEMBER 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, has warned ministers that the Government’s sustainable farming schemes are failing smaller farms, as he pushed for reforms in parliament yesterday.

As part of protecting the farming budget at the Spending Review earlier this year, the Government announced more than £2.7 billion a year will be invested in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026 to 2029. These schemes provide investment into farms right across the country, including several across Mr Strathern’s constituency, incentivising nature and climate friendly approaches to farming.

However, speaking in Parliament this week Strathern told DEFRA ministers that while many local farms have felt the benefit of sustainable farming incentive (SFI) funds, small and medium-sized farms have struggled to access schemes. Highlighting the experience of local farmers from visits right across his constituency, Strathern called for reforms to sustainable farming schemes to ensure they are more accessible for small family farms.

In response the Minister committed to work with farmers to learn from the shortcomings of previous SFI schemes, including around local advice and support offers. Mr Strathern will be continuing to push Ministers to waste no time in bringing these changes forward.

This latest intervention builds on Alistair’s ongoing work with local farmers, including hosting roundtables on sustainable farming in Parliament, visiting family-run farms across the constituency, and calling for long-term, stable funding for sustainable food production.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“Small and family-run farms are the backbone of our rural communities, and stewards of much of the fantastic countryside that makes our area so special.

“But the current sustainable farming schemes are failing to give smaller farms the support they need to better run their business and protect local nature.

“If ministers are serious about protecting our countryside, they must deliver a system that works for farms of all sizes.

“I was glad to hear the Minister listen to our concerns and commit to act. I’ll be continuing to press the case in Westminster to ensure they do.”

Notes for Editors

You can see Strathern’s question in Parliament here.