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More than double the funding was on offer in the second round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant. But with dwindling confidence in the dairy sector farmers are cautious about where, when and what to invest in, questioning whether now is the right time to apply

When it comes to the application process, the delivery and the options available to all farmers, there are some inconsistencies, which the industry hopes will be ironed out in the next SFI announcement

The selected projects will now begin their two-year development phase to finalise arrangements

When it comes to SFI uptake, about 6,600 applications have been started but not yet submitted and only 800 agreements are live with farmers delivering on required outcomes

NFU modelling work showed on average upland farm businesses lost 37 per cent of their support payments under the current Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship options

When questioned at last weekend's English Winter Fair on whether he had wanted the role of Defra Secretary, Mr Spencer said it was not a question of ‘putting my hat in the ring'. "This was a decision for the Prime Minister," he said

Mr Bradshaw will be hoping to take over Minette Batters, who will be stepping down from the role in February 2024 after 10 years in post

NFU president Minette Batters said food security should always remain a 'top priority for any Government', adding it was not just about sustaining farmers, it was about safeguarding a secure supply of homegrown food

The new Secretary of State at Defra, Steve Barclay has pledged to ‘back British farming' as he takes up his new role following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's reshuffle earlier this week

EFRA Committee urged the Government to commit to an annual update on UK Food Security, as well as a Food Security Summit chaired by the Prime Minister