Published: 15/10/2025 By Jane Ruell
Today, DEFRA have announced they are now offering one-year extensions to more than 5,000 Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier (CS MT) agreement holders whose agreements are set to expire on 31st December 2025.The extension will postpone the agreement end date by a year to 31st December 2026, and those agreements will continue under the same rules, terms and conditions i.e. the extension cannot be used to remove or replace options or capital items to an existing agreement.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact eligible parties within the next few weeks. Those who wish to accept the extension will need to reply to the offer before the deadline; the agreement and payments will then continue after December 31, 2025. For those who do not reply by the date in the extension offer, the agreement will terminate on 31st December 2025, and no further extension will be granted.
If you are expecting to receive an extension offer but have not heard from the RPA by 6th November 2025, we suggest that you either contact them directly, or contact us for assistance.
If you would like assistance with completing your extension application or would like to discuss it, please get in touch with Phoebe Wreford-Glanvill, Agricultural Consultant in the Poundbury Burraton House Office on 01305 236237, or contact our Rural Grants experts in your local Symonds & Sampson office.
