UK £233m sustainable farming fund exhausted in six hours, thousands of farmers miss out

The UK government's £233m sustainable farming incentive (SFI) scheme for 2026 was fully allocated within six hours of opening, leaving thousands of farmers without funding. The rapid depletion highlights a mismatch between program demand and budget allocation, raising questions about the government's agricultural policy and its ability to meet environmental targets. The incident may pressure the government to increase funding or adjust the scheme's design.