Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Rural Affairs, has welcomed the Government's announcement on changes to environmental farming schemes — including the reopening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) — but cautioned that English farmers remain without direct support for food production.

The Government confirmed on Thursday, 8 January 2026 that the SFI will reopen in two stages, with the first tranche opening in June prioritising smaller farmers and those previously shut out of support. A wider application window is due to follow in September.

The move comes after Dyke pressed ministers on the issue in Parliament during a debate on rural communities, arguing that agri‑environment schemes must be fair and accessible rather than favouring those with the resources to submit early or complex bids.

However, Dyke warned the changes fail to address what she described as "a fundamental problem facing English farming" — the absence of direct support payments that underpin food production.

MP's criticism of policy gap

Speaking after the announcement, Dyke said: "The one glaring omission in today's announcement is that England remains on course to be the only country in Europe whose farmers will not receive direct support to fulfil their primary mission and motivation, which is to produce food."

In the House of Commons, she outlined the pressures facing farming families as the Basic Payments Scheme — long relied on by many — comes to an end this year, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continue to provide direct support under their respective schemes.

Dyke added: "This is the first time in 80 years that a government has chosen not to support farmers to produce food. … Labour have decided to continue with a regressive Tory policy which means that English agriculture is being denied the basic support that farmers elsewhere receive, all the while being expected to shoulder rising costs, volatile markets and unfair competition. This disincentivises food production and is absolute madness."

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Calls for broader reforms

While welcoming clarity over SFI's reopening — a move she said gives farmers "some much‑needed certainty" — Dyke said ministers have yet to explain how they will ensure funding is not dominated by large landowners, corporations and organisations with capacity to submit early applications.

She also welcomed the introduction of a new Farmer Collaboration Fund, designed to bring more smaller farms into environmental schemes — a policy the Liberal Democrats had previously proposed.

Dyke reiterated calls for the Government to reverse the Family Farm Tax, increase the overall farming budget by £1bn, strengthen trade deal standards, and create a food system that values both environmental stewardship and food production while protecting producers and consumers.

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