Today we published the Farming and Countryside Programme’s (FCP) annual report. It sets out how funding has been used over the past year and the progress we’ve made with our environmental land management schemes.
We’re also publishing guidance to help eligible farmers, foresters and land managers prepare and submit Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) applications. The online service will open next week for those who have been invited and completed the pre-application process.
In this post, we share a summary.
FCP annual report
Each year, the Secretary of State must publish a report showing how government funding has been used to support farmers and land managers across England.
Publishing the report lets farmers, stakeholders, and the public see clearly how funding and policies are being used to support farms, the environment, and sustainable food production.
Over the past year, we’ve invested:
- £1.394 billion to support farms through our environmental land management schemes (ELM) helping food production become more sustainable, profitable and resilient
- £274 million in productivity and innovation grants so farmers can trial new technologies and drive innovation
- £83 million to improve animal health and welfare on farm.
And the support isn’t stopping there. Funding for ELM schemes paid to farmers will grow by 150%, rising from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29. That’s more money to invest in the land, wildlife, and sustainable practices that make farming thrive for the long term.
Read the full FCP annual report on GOV.UK.
Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT)
Next week, the online CSHT service will open for applications from farmers, foresters, and land managers who have been invited and completed pre-application advice. We'll blog again when it opens.
Since January, Natural England and the Forestry Commission have been supporting farmers and land managers to develop their CSHT applications. Over 1,500 people have been invited to receive pre-application support to date.
On the CSHT landing page, you will find:
- the CSHT applicant's guide and CSHT applicant’s checklist
- CSHT agreement holder's guide
- CSHT terms and conditions
- CSHT actions in the 'FIND funding for land or farms tool’
The improved CSHT
The new CSHT offer includes:
- several new actions to protect and maintain watercourses, including actions to improve water quality, manage water edge habitats and reduce the risk of downstream flooding
- floodplain meadows with a new species-rich floodplain meadow action to protect and expand wildlife habitats, provide natural floodwater storage, capture carbon, and enhance climate resilience
- agroforestry with four new actions to reduce soil erosion, improve water and air quality, provide shade and shelter for crops and livestock, and reduce flood risk
- improved delivery including quarterly payments, monthly agreement start dates, and a simpler online application process
Guidance to help you apply for CSHT
We’ve published guidance to help you prepare and submit a CSHT application using the online service, when you’re invited to do so.
We understand that the CSHT process is new and works differently to other schemes, so we’ve included an optional checklist to guide you through each step – from preparing your application to submitting it.
Using the FIND tool to explore CSHT actions
All CSHT actions are now available in the FIND tool. You can use it to:
- Search for specific actions, if you already know what you want to do
- Explore actions based on land types or areas of interest – such as arable land, coastal areas, historic and archaeological features, or water quality.
Each action includes optional advice to support farmers, foresters and land managers. This advice is there to help, but it’s not a requirement of the action.
Printable version of CSHT actions
You’ve told us that having a printable version of the CSHT actions is helpful.
We’ve created a print-friendly version that includes all the actions.
It doesn’t include the optional advice as that would make each action too long and less straightforward to use. Instead, the printable version provides a direct link to the advice in the FIND tool.
Learn more
Back British Farming Day is an opportunity to celebrate the great work already happening across the country.
Across England, farmers are already making a real difference for nature and sustainable food production. Right now, over 77,000 live agri-environment scheme agreements are supporting them to do just that. It is the highest number ever accepted.
Farmers are innovating through inspiring projects supported by the Farming Innovation Programme, while Landscape Recovery has just entered an exciting new phase.
Subscribe to the Farming Blog to read these stories and keep up with our progress. You can also meet the team at agricultural shows or get involved in shaping our work through initiatives including our user research panel.
6 comments
Comment by Richard Pelly posted on
Applications for CSHT are apparently to be initiated by "invitation". What criteria are DEFRA using in deciding to whom they will send CSHT invitations?
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your question. Since January, selected groups have been invited to pre-application advice from Natural England and the Forestry Commission. These include:
- those with existing CSHT agreements expiring in 2025
- those with an approved woodland management plan
- applicants who already have an approved agri-environment plan - such as an implementation plan or agroforestry plan – and are ready to develop a CSHT application
Best wishes,
The Team
Comment by John Hawkins posted on
This is pure SPIN... CS is on the scrapheap and DEFRA know that... stop pouring fuel on the CS fire please?
Comment by The Team posted on
Thanks for your comment.
The new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme is part of the government’s £11.8 billion investment to deliver sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.
Funding for our environmental land management schemes will increase to £2 billion by 2028/29.
Best wishes,
The Team
Comment by Anonymous posted on
So does this imply that 1500 people have already been "invited" to apply? and the rest of us can assume that no invite is forthcoming?
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hello,
So far, 1,500 have already been invited to receive the pre-application advice, and we'll continue to invite in further applicants for pre-application advice over the rest of 2025/26. This month, the first farmers, foresters and land managers who've received their pre-application advice will be invited to apply online. CSHT will open through a controlled rollout, gradually building up to ensure everyone receives the necessary support.
Best wishes,
Sarah