DEFRA has announced a one-year extension for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements that are due to expire on 31 December 2025. This offer will extend the end date of eligible agreements to 31 December 2026, maintaining the same rules, terms and conditions as the original agreement.
Key points:
• agreement holders will not be able to add, remove or replace options or capital items;
• any capital works not completed and paid for by the start of the extension will be removed from the agreement;
• options or supplements with durations of less than five years will not be eligible for extension.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact agreement holders who qualify for the extension. Those who wish to accept the offer must respond directly to the RPA. If no response is received, the agreement will end as originally scheduled in December 2025.
If agreement holders have not heard from the RPA by 6 November, and their agreement is due to expire this year, they are encouraged to contact the RPA to confirm their eligibility.
Although the announcement will be of assistance to some, many in the farming community feel the measures are too little too late, as key decisions around cropping and business planning have already been made and, in some cases, land that was in stewardship options has already been put back into food production. Across the sector, there remains a strong call for longer-term clarity and commitment to environmental funding, so that farm businesses can plan with confidence.
