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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has today, 28th May 2025, unveiled a £30 million investment to enhance payment rates for farmers and landowners participating in Higher Level Stewardship (HLS). This initiative aims to align HLS payments more closely with those offered under the Countryside Stewardship Higher-Tier (CSHT) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes.
Effective from 1 January 2025, the revised rates will apply to 157 options and address the stagnation in HLS payments, which have remained unchanged for over a decade.
The 23 HLS options with payment rates that already exceed their CSHT or SFI counterparts will remain unchanged; likewise, the 22 options without any direct equivalent. Payments for Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) will also remain as existing.
If you require advise and further understanding, please contact Stags Professional Services on 01823 653424 or [email protected] to be put in contact with your local expert.
