More than £400 million has been paid out to farmers within weeks of the 2025 payment window opening, as agri-environment schemes are brought forward at speed to support sustainable food production.
The Rural Payments Agency confirmed today (12 December) that around three-quarters of eligible farmers have already received Rural Management and Environmental Management payments since applications opened on 1 December.
To date, 28,351 payments have been made, amounting to £435.6m to agricultural businesses, with further payments due from December onwards.
The scheme is designed to reward farmers who manage their land in a way that provides environmental benefits while maintaining food production.
They help protect habitats and species, improve water quality, reduce flood risk, enhance carbon capture, and preserve historic and archaeological features, while also helping to build resilience and long-term viability for agricultural businesses.
The timing of the support will be particularly important as the winter progresses, as the payments come at a time when many farmers continue to experience high input costs and tight profit margins.
RPA chief executive Neil Hornby said RPA had focused on accelerating delivery this year. “The RPA has worked hard to ensure that farmers receive their Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments as soon as possible,” he said.
“We have made a strong start to the 2025 payment period, with an increase in the number of payments made in the first few weeks compared to last year.”
He added: “We are grateful for the hard work of our RPA team who has been focused on providing the best possible service to our customers.”
The government said the scheme forms part of a broader approach to supporting UK farming through nature-friendly practices, new technology and simplified regulation, with more than half of farmers now participating in farming schemes aimed at improving both environmental outcomes and business performance.
RPA has faced criticism in the past over payment delays, but said progress this year shows improvements in delivery times.
As payments continue into the new year, more funding is expected to reach farmers as agri-environment schemes play an increasingly central role in supporting sustainable food production and promising rural businesses, officials said.
