The Team

We're working with farms to improve the way we regulate and support farming and the environment.

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Find out more about Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery

The Team, 6 January 2022 - Countryside Stewardship, environmental land management schemes

Today we published a blog post with news about our 3 environmental land management schemes and Countryside Stewardship payment rates. In that post, we explained how the schemes fit together and the timings for them. In this post, we'll share a bit more information about eligibility and what the schemes will pay for.  

Get ready for our 3 new environmental land management schemes

The Team, 6 January 2022 - environmental land management schemes, Payments to better understand moorland, Payments to improve animal health and welfare, Payments to restore landscapes and ecosystems, Sustainable Farming Incentive

Today we published more information on Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery – which, along with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, make up our 3 new and ambitious environmental land management schemes.

An update on the Farming Investment Fund

The Team, 2 November 2021 - Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure

In this post, we provide an update on the Farming Investment Fund. 

Catch up on our Landscape Recovery information sessions

The Team, 30 September 2021 - environmental land management schemes, Payments to restore landscapes and ecosystems

Landscape Recovery is 1 of our 3 new environmental land management schemes. Over the summer, we held some information sessions about the scheme. The sessions were recorded. So, if you weren't able to attend, you can still learn more by watching any of the 3 videos below.

Answering farmers' questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive - part 2

The Team, 28 September 2021 - Conversations we're having, environmental land management schemes, Q&A

The Farming Forum recently held a Q&A session with Janet Hughes, Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director. Farmers were invited to submit their questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Clive Bailye, Director of the Farming Forum, put the most-asked questions to Janet. This is part 2 of 2.

Our test and learn approach

The Team, 14 September 2021 - Future Farming and Countryside Programme

Although we’ve written about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, we thought it might be useful to provide some rationale for our test and learn approach to designing and rolling out reform.  

Answering farmers' questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive

The Team, 1 September 2021 - Conversations we're having, environmental land management schemes, Q&A, Things we're doing

The Farming Forum recently held a Q&A session with Janet Hughes, Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside Programme Director. Farmers were invited to submit their questions about the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Clive Bailye, Director of the Farming Forum, put the most-asked questions to Janet. This is part 1 of 2.

Farming in Protected Landscapes: ideas for your farm

The Team, 24 August 2021 - Payments to support parks, National Landscapes and the Broads, Ways to get involved

In this video, Suzanne Fletcher from the Peak District National Park and Tom Munro from the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty explain the Farming in Protected Landscapes application process and give you some ideas of the projects you could do on your farm.

Video: Farmers on the Future Farming Resilience Fund

The Team, 22 July 2021 - Transition support

The Future Farming Resilience Fund provides business support to farmers and land managers during the early years of the agricultural transition. Recently, we published a list of the suppliers and how you can access support. In this video, 3 farmers share their experience.

The Future Farming and Countryside Programme

The Team, 23 June 2021 - Future Farming and Countryside Programme

Farming is going through the biggest change in a generation.

Government's approach to working with the sector is changing too.

Click on the link below for an overview of the programme, our schemes and delivery timeline.

Sustainable Farming Incentive update (12 May 2025)

Those who started an SFI application within 2 months of 11 March 2025 but did not submit it by that date will be given 6 weeks to complete an application, subject to specific restrictions, including a cap of £9,300 per year per agreement. 

Read the full update from Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner.

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About us

This blog is managed by Defra’s Farming and Countryside Programme.

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.

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This week, 8-11 July we’ll be at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate.

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You can find us at these agricultural shows and conferences in 2025.

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The Farming Advice Service (FAS) provide free, confidential advice to farmers and advisers.

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