Almost 80% of farmers who applied for extensions chose to continue their mid-tier contracts for a further year, securing around £59m in Countryside Stewardship funding.
The Rural Payments Authority (RPA) announced today (27 January) that nearly four in five eligible farmers have accepted the offer, allowing them to continue with their existing contracts on their current terms.
More than 4,000 farmers participated in this expansion, providing continuity of environmental management work already carried out on their farms.
The Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier scheme supports farmers and land managers to achieve environmental outcomes alongside food production, with options such as habitat creation, hedgerow management and water pollution mitigation measures.
According to the government, the plan aims to support agricultural resilience while contributing to goals around nature recovery, carbon storage and sustainable food production.
The extension comes as many businesses seek greater near-term certainty over their income streams and as farmers continue to adapt to broader changes to farm support, including the phasing out of direct payments.
Extending existing agreements allows participants to continue on familiar terms while long-term policy reforms are developed.
Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Agriculture, said:
“Extending the Countryside Stewardship Intermediate Agreement will give farmers the certainty and support they need to plan ahead.”
He added: “It’s heartening to see that most farmers who have applied for an extension have accepted it, allowing them to continue growing their businesses, putting more British food on our plates and contributing to nature’s recovery.”
Oliver Mann, CEO of the Rural Payments Agency, said: “We are delighted that so many farmers have chosen to continue with Countryside Management Agreements.
“These expansions provide stability and allow farmers to continue delivering important environmental outcomes on their land.”
The agency confirmed that all accepted extensions have been completed and confirmation letters will be issued to customers.
Farmers with land within a Site of Special Scientific Interest must confirm their agreement with Natural England by 19 February 2026 for the extension to take effect.
