DEFRA Secretary Victoria Prentis has said she is happy with the initial take-up of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
As of last week, only 441 applications for the SFI had been started, with around 0.5 per cent of BPS claimants, with 138 submitted and 83 agreements offered.
Speaking to Farmers Guardian at the Great Yorkshire Show, Ms Prentis said: I am happy with the way it is going. This has been a soft launch and it was never the intention to walk before we can run.
Applications from farmers who have applied are being processed by the Rural Payments Agency and money will get into their bank accounts quicker.
The process is much simpler and I would encourage more farmers to start applying now.
Her comments came as NFU vice president David Exwood called for the SFI to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to soil management.
Speaking at the launch of a new report from the union which set out the importance of soil health, Mr Exwood said: "Soil quality can vary greatly within a field, let alone across a whole farm. On my farm we have more than 200 fields and each one needs a tailored approach.
"We need a co-ordinated industry approach which really understands the complex nature of soil ecosystems and incentivises farmers for improving their soil."
