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Sustainable Farming Incentive: South Suffolk

Asked by James CartlidgeConservativeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 25 March 2025UIN 37595

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of pausing the Sustainable Farming Incentive for new applications on (a) flood risk and (b) flood management for agricultural land in South Suffolk constituency.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

All actions in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have been assessed for the impact on a number of indicators, including flood risk. By benefiting soil health, many of the actions in SFI will reduce flood risk by increasing infiltration and therefore, reducing run off. These actions will be delivered across tens of thousands of farmers for the next three years. The specific actions to manage flood risk are mainly in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, which will open in the summer.

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