Defra caused uproar when it announced on March 11 that it had stopped accepting new applications for the sustainable farming incentive (SFI), which rewards farmers for creating habitats and managing natural features on their land.

Farm conservation experts said this slammed the door on hundreds of East Anglian farmers who were part-way through an application, but had not yet submitted it.

At the time, ministers said the maximum budget limit had been reached for the scheme, with a record 37,000 live SFI agreements in place.

But now

© Eastern Daily Press