WEST Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour has joined mounting criticism of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) after a new farming support fund ran out of money in just six hours.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) opened and closed on the same day after its £233 million budget was fully allocated.

SFI was introduced to replace the former Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), where farmers received payments for work such as improving soils, protecting waterways, and creating space for wildlife.

Now, Mrs Gilmour has written to express her ‘fury’ over the issue to Defra Secretary Angela Eagle.

Mrs Gilmour said a first-come, first-served system paired with a comparatively small budget was always likely to leave smaller farms behind, particularly on Exmoor where poor broadband and mobile connectivity put farmers at a disadvantage from the start.

She wanted to know what assessment of the budget was made before applications opened, and whether Ministers anticipated the fund would run out so quickly.

Mrs Gilmour also raised reports that some farmers faced long waits for support while trying to apply and then found the application window had already closed by the time help arrived.

She said the problems were ‘entirely foreseeable’ given the way the system had been set up for applications to be submitted.

Mrs Gilmour said: “I am extremely disappointed and angry that Defra has rolled out the scheme in this way.

“They have shown a complete lack of foresight and understanding of the difficulties farmers in my constituency face.

“How is it a level playing field for small family farms and those in rural areas?

“Our farmers are a resilient bunch, but how can we expect them to continue putting up with this Government’s lack of support or understanding?

“Our farmers deserve better.

“Defra need to find an urgent solution.

“Food security is national security.”