Farmers in England furious as Defra pauses post-Brexit payment scheme

Applications to the sustainable farming initiative no longer accepted but no clarity on what will replace it and when

Farming and countryside groups in England are furious that the government has paused a key post-Brexit farming payments scheme with little information about what will replace it and when.

In a statement on Tuesday evening the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the sustainable farming incentive would no longer accept new applications.