How farmers are helping us to design the first of our environmental land management schemes
In this blog post, I’ll share how we have worked with the farming community to develop the standards for the Sustainable Farming Incentive from 2021.
Bailey Hemphill is a policy advisor in Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive team.
Her team is part of the Environmental Land Management Programme.
Bailey and her team are responsible for developing standards for the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme pilot.
This scheme is one of three new environmental land management schemes that will be introduced over the next few years.
Bailey is also the Environmental Land Management Programme policy lead for the Environment Bill.
In this blog post, I’ll share how we have worked with the farming community to develop the standards for the Sustainable Farming Incentive from 2021.
This blog is managed by Defra’s Farming and Countryside Programme (FCP).
On this blog, we explain the reforms to agricultural policy in England.
We share what we’re working on, what we’re learning and how you can get involved. Find out more
Use our free tool to plan and manage your nutrient applications.
From 6 April 2026, full inheritance tax relief will apply to the first £2.5 million of qualifying agricultural and business assets, with lower relief applying to any value above this. Learn more

24-25 February NFU Conference at The ICC in Birmingham.
27-28 February IAgSA Conference at Blunsdon House Hotel in Swindon.
The Farming Advice Service (FAS) provides free, confidential advice to farmers and advisers.
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) helps farmers in England protect water, air and soil. CSF advisers can provide advice on best practices and specific actions that will benefit your farm business and the environment.
We’ve compiled a list of organisations offering wellbeing support to those in the farming community.