Almost four in five farmers invited to extend their Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier agreements have accepted, according to a Defra press release published on 26 January 2026. More than 4,000 agreements, worth just under £59 million in total, have been extended and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) says all accepted extensions have been processed with confirmation letters to follow. (gov.uk)
CS Mid Tier funds practical actions such as creating wildlife habitats, managing hedgerows and reducing water pollution while maintaining food production. Government describes the scheme as contributing to nature recovery, carbon storage and more resilient farm businesses. (gov.uk)
Defra’s guidance confirms the one‑year extension applies to CS Mid Tier agreements that started in 2021 and were due to end on 31 December 2025. Eligible agreement holders were contacted by the RPA and, where they replied by 27 November 2025, their agreements now run from 1 January to 31 December 2026; the guidance applies to England. (gov.uk)
Terms are unchanged for the extension year. Options or supplements with durations under five years cannot be extended; incomplete capital items are removed; and no options or capital items can be added, removed or replaced. Where agreements include land designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Natural England consent is required before continuing work. (gov.uk)
The RPA states that all accepted extensions have been processed and that customers who accepted will receive confirmation letters. This administrative step follows publication of the uptake figures and signals that the extension year can proceed on schedule. (gov.uk)
For farm businesses, the rollover maintains revenue and environmental delivery through 2026 while the Sustainable Farming Incentive, identified by Defra as the replacement scheme, is reviewed. Agreement holders must continue to meet existing CS Mid Tier rules and submit the annual claim in the usual way. (gov.uk)
Those who did not accept the offer by the deadline cannot extend; their agreements ended on 31 December 2025. Defra’s guidance also stresses the need to retain management control for the extension period and, where relevant, to secure landlord consent. (gov.uk)
Ministers describe the extension as part of a plan to give farmers longer‑term certainty alongside productive and sustainable food production. Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle welcomed the acceptance rate and emphasised continuity for both farm businesses and environmental outcomes. (gov.uk)