DEFRA has announced a one-year extension for over 5,000 Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements due to end on 31 December 2025. This extension, secured through NFU advocacy, offers continuity while DEFRA develops the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 updates the Environmental Improvement Plan, and rolls out the new Countryside Stewardship Higher-Tier scheme.
The extension will see your agreements extended to 31 December 2026 under the same terms and conditions as original agreements. Therefore, you cannot change your options or capital items in anyway other than as agreed to previously. It must also be noted that any options that have a duration of less than 5 years cannot be extended and any works that have not been completed before the extension starts, will be removed from the agreements.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact eligible agreement holders by 6 November 2025. If you wish to accept the extension, you must respond to the offer. If you do not want to extend your agreement and would like it to terminate on 31st December 2025, you must inform the RPA now of your decision. Therefore, action is needed either way.
While this is a welcome extension, to tie over the potential funding gap for the farmers and landowners with an agreement ending at the end of the year, a long-term commitment from DEFRA is essential to support farmers in delivering sustainable British food production in harmony with nature.
If you would like advice on your options, please contact the team at Sworders.