Farmers in North Yorkshire can learn more about the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) at a free meeting.

Hosted by Ricardo’s Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF), the meeting will take place at the Rose and Crown, Nawton near Helmsley on Friday, November 3.

The event, which starts at 10am, will cover topics including how to apply for SFI, a discussion around the actions available, a question-and-answer session and include an optional farm walk in the afternoon.

It will be hosted by Ricardo’s FFRF regional coordinator Fraser Hugill and feature guest speakers Laura Harpham from the Farming Advice Service and Amelia Rome from Andersons.

Fraser Hugill said: “We want to be able to help farmers and land managers to be able to understand the actions and apply for the new SFI scheme themselves and consider how they can complement their farming activities.

“The meeting will cover this as well as how it can fit with existing environmental schemes and the farm business. Farmers are facing an uncertain future with the changes to BPS and the FFRF programme is providing support to help guide them through these uncertain times.”

The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the first in a package of environmental land management schemes, which will provide a straightforward way for farmers to get paid for producing public goods. These include cleaner water, cleaner air and carbon reduction.

Through the Sustainable Farming Incentive, farmers will be paid for environmentally sustainable actions – ones that are simple to do and that don’t require previous experience in agri-environment schemes. For example, we might pay farmers to manage and plant hedgerows to provide year-round food, shelter and breeding cover for birds and insects.

Ricardo’s FFRF programme has a range of support available which includes:

• Up to three days of free one-to-one business support from an Andersons consultant

• A one-day environmental review

• Personal resilience and wellbeing support - partnering with the Farming Community Network (FCN)

• Access to regional workshops and webinars

• Follow-up support

To book a place at the meeting at Nawton, which includes lunch, and for more information visit: https://FFRF-SFI-Nawton.eventbrite.co.uk or call 01235 753 530.