INCREASED payments for farmers have come ‘too little, too late’ according to an Oxfordshire MP.

On Thursday this week (January 5), the Government announced new environmental subsidies for agriculture.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs announced farmers will receive increase payments for payment and enhancing nature and delivering sustainable food production.

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Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Farming Minister Mark Spencer announced more money for farmers and landowners through both the Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, which will provide more support to the industry and drive uptake at a time of rising costs for farmers as a result of global challenges. 

The changes mean farmers could receive up to a further £1,000 per year for taking nature-friendly action through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). 

MP Layla Moran, who represents Abingdon and Oxford West, said the changes were ‘too little, too late’.

She said: “With farmers struggling to absorb Brexit subsidy cuts and under threat from post-Brexit trade deals, this announcement is too little, too late for UK agriculture.

“As shown by the dismal uptake, the Government’s replacement of the EU’s agricultural subsidy has become the exact bureaucratic morass Brexiters harped on about.

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“They must streamline the process and offer support at least equivalent to that which they would have had were it not for Brexit.”

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This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @geeharland