For thousands of farmers across England, December 2025 marks more than the turn of the year, it marks the expiry of Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid-Tier agreements with no guaranteed path into the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). What was promised as a “smooth transition” now looks like a cliff edge, and the consequences could be devastating for farm businesses and the environment alike.
The Data DEFRA Doesn’t Want to Talk About
The data shows the scale of the challenge:
- 4,520 unique farming businesses with Mid-Tier agreements are set to expire on 31 December 2025
- 136,445 individual CS options will be lost if there is no replacement in time
- 51,000 hectares of arable options — providing food for farmland birds and vital habitats for pollinators — are directly at risk
Years of work building soil health, planting margins, and supporting biodiversity could be undone overnight.
📊 With JustFarm, farmers and land agents don’t just see the headline numbers, they see how these risks play out on their own land. The platform shows which fields are tied to expiring agreements, what evidence is already logged, and what still needs to be captured. Instead of realising too late that support has lapsed, users can map out their transition into SFI with everything in one place.
Farmers on the Brink
Behind every number is a farm business making impossible choices.
"We’ve managed 20 hectares of pollen and nectar margins under CS. If support disappears, those areas may have to go back into cropping just to balance the books. It would feel like tearing up years of progress."
"My agreement funds 15% of my income. Without it, I’ll be forced to make tough calls about staff and production. It’s not about optimism anymore, it’s survival."
Farmers are clear: the uncertainty is as damaging as the financial loss. Without clear guidance, they risk losing trust in schemes entirely.
The Cost Beyond the Farm Gate
This isn’t just about subsidy payments. CS Mid-Tier has supported field margins, winter bird food, beetle banks, and buffer strips that protect waterways. Removing them would:
- Strip away habitats for red- and amber-listed bird species
- Increase flood risk downstream as land loses its natural buffers
- Reduce natural pest control, pushing farms closer to chemical dependence
As one farm advisor put it:
"If CS support lapses without a bridge into SFI, it’s not just farmers who lose. We all do...biodiversity, water quality, even food security will suffer."
A Practical Safety Net
DEFRA may move slowly, but farmers cannot. That’s why platforms like JustFarm are becoming essential.
- Track which CS and SFI actions are ending and where the gaps lie
- Store and organise evidence so nothing is lost in transition
- Plan your next moves by field, subsidy, and compliance requirement
- Show clients or businesses what’s at stake with clear, audit-ready reports
Farmers cannot afford to “wait and see” if DEFRA plugs the gap. With JustFarm, they at least gain control of what they can manage, evidence, deadlines, and strategy.
Take Action Now
Thousands of Mid-Tier agreements will expire in December 2025. Without preparation, the environmental and financial cost will be felt for years.
Farmers deserve clarity. But until government delivers it, readiness is in your hands.
👉 Sign up for JustFarm today and get a clear view of your agreements, evidence, and risks — so that you don’t face the cliff edge blind.