The Team

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

If you'd like to get in contact with the editor, leave a comment on any post.

Video: Michael Orchard, livestock farmer, on the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot

The Team, 10 March 2022 - A view from the farm, environmental land management schemes, Farmers, Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot, Things we've learned

We asked farmers helping us co-design the Sustainable Farming Incentive to share their experience in a video diary. In this video, Michael Orchard gives us a tour of his livestock farm in the Peak District National Park. He shares the improvements he’d like to see come out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot.

Future Farming Podcast: Government-funded innovation

The Team, 28 February 2022 - Conversations we're having, Future Farming Podcast, Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure

In the seventh episode of the Future Farming podcast, Tim Mordan, Defra’s Head of Farming Innovation, Productivity and Science talks to Rui Andrês, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics, about their innovative raspberry robot picker.

Slurry: making the best of it 

The Team, 21 February 2022 - A view from the farm, Things we're doing, Things we've learned, Ways to get involved

Slurry contains lots of nutrients including nitrates, phosphate and potash as well as a host of other things that can benefit soil health and support crop growth. It can, however, create significant pollution to our water and air. Through co-design, our team joined with a group of farmers, industry leaders and experts to explore the subject. In this post, we’ll share what we’ve learned and how we plan to support farmers so that nutrients from slurry aren’t lost, that any damage to our environment is reduced and farmers aren’t dependent on expensive artificial fertilisers.

How we’re developing slurry grants 

The Team, 21 February 2022 - Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure

Today, we've blogged about how we're working with farmers and others across the industry to use slurry to our advantage. Farmers told us that finance often stands in the way of improving their slurry and nutrient management systems. Investing in slurry equipment and infrastructure is expensive. Particularly when it comes to integrating new technologies, techniques and building infrastructure. In this post, we'll share how we've been developing slurry grants to better support farmers and what to expect later this year. 

Future Farming Podcast: Tim Parton on nitrogen-fixing bacteria and nutrient-dense food 

The Team and Janet Hughes, 2 February 2022 - Conversations we're having, Future Farming Podcast

In the sixth episode of the Future Farming Podcast, Programme Director Janet Hughes talks to Tim Parton. Tim is Farm Manager at Brewood Park Farm, Staffordshire, where he manages 300 hectares using regenerative agriculture methods. Find out how Tim moved to no-till, reduced insecticide and fungicide use and brewed his own nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Improving Farming Productivity grant: dairy scoring update  

The Team, 31 January 2022 - Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure

The 2-step application process for the Improving Farm Productivity grant starts with an online eligibility checker. Unfortunately, the online checker was scoring dairy sector applications ‘weak’ or ‘average’. It did not appear possible to score highly. This error was investigated and a glitch in the scoring was identified. It has been fixed. Those who were deterred from applying because of this are encouraged to try again. No one will be disadvantaged because of this. 

Introducing the UK Agriculture Partnership 

The Team, 27 January 2022 - Farming across the UK

The UK's devolved administrations already work closely to ensure their policies are aligned. However, to share scientific ideas, solutions and innovations, Defra set up the UK Agriculture Partnership. It launched today and we'd like to share a little more about it in this post. 

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. 

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.

Find out more

Talk to us

On 25 February, we are attending the NFU Conference in London.

Come and say hello to our team.

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

Funding for farmers, growers and land managers in England

GOV.UK is the place to find official guidance and information.

Funding for farmers, growers and land managers sets out every payment on offer with links to learn more.

Get advice

The Farming Resilience Fund provides free, independent business support to farmers. If you’ve received direct payments since October 2022, you’re eligible. 

The Farming Advice Service (FAS) provide 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 SFI 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.

New: drafts of further endorsed SFI actions

We’ve published drafts of an additional 14 SFI endorsed actions. Once we take stakeholder feedback on board, we expect these actions to be available from summer 2025.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive

Find out how SFI can work for you.

Webinars in 2025

Attend upcoming webinars and watch recordings.

BPS and delinked payments

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in England will be replaced with delinked payments in 2024.

Learn how they’re calculated and who’s eligible.

Sign up and manage updates

• Email
• Atom

Using this blog

Comments, moderation and feedback.

Follow us

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Defra e-alert
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Defra Farming podcast