Eligible sheep farmers are being encouraged to sign up to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot, which is the first element of the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).
Expressions of interest are being sought from farmers and land managers in England to shape the development of the new environmental schemes to replace the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Defra is looking for several hundred farmers from varying farm types and geographical locations across England to take part in the first phase of the piloting to make sure the SFI works in practical terms.”
Mr Stocker added: “This is a wide-reaching opportunity to assess the scheme and potentially to be part of the development of a significant and extensive change, that can further enhance the role sheep farming plays in our rural landscape.”
The window to register interest opened this week and closes on Monday 11 April.
LSL News.