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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Slurry Infrastructure grant: join our webinar and read guidance for round 2

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Grants, Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure, Webinars

In April, I blogged about the outcome of the first round of Slurry Infrastructure grants. In that post, I said we were planning to launch two further, larger rounds in Autumn 2023 and 2024. In this post, I'll share details of the grant and a link to a webinar we held on the grant to learn more.

Watch: a test and trial update from Aqualate Mere

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: A view from the farm
A group of men discussing the Aqualate Mere

In this film, we return to Aqualate Mere in Staffordshire to learn more about the tests and trials experience of Aqualate Castle Holdings. Farmers in the catchment share what they learned about blending public and private finance for greater environmental good. They focused on commercial agreements between private organisations and local farmers.

New Entrant Support Scheme pilots: our initial findings

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for entering farming
A figure stands in a bright yellow field, looking toward the horizon.

Earlier this year, I shared an update on the New Entrant Support scheme pilots. In the post, I included portraits of our participants. Since the pilots finished in May, we have been busy evaluating them using participant surveys, interviews and reports from the pilot leaders. With close to 200 pilot participants, there was a lot of valuable feedback to analyse, and we continue to learn from it. In this post, I’d like to share our initial findings so far.

Woodland creation: supporting your business and the environment

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments to plant trees and manage woodland
Two people talk in a countryside setting with tree in the background.

If you are a farmer or landowner in England, you can apply for woodland creation grants to support tree planting projects of all shapes and sizes. In this post, we’ll explain how planting the right trees in the right place can diversify your business, boost income, support food production, and enhance the environment. We’ll also share links for you to find out about the grants on offer.  

Farming podcast: Learning more about SFI in 2023 with the NFU

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Future Farming Podcast, Sustainable Farming Incentive

In this episode of the Farming podcast, Jonathan Marsden, Head of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) talks to Claire Robinson, Senior Countryside Adviser for the National Farmers Union (NFU). The pair discuss what you need to know as a farmer to get ready for SFI this year.

Watch: Funding for farmers webinar

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Grants, Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure, Payments to improve animal health and welfare, Sustainable Farming Incentive, Things we're doing, Webinars
Someone writes in a notebook with laptop in the background

On Wednesday 6 September, we held a webinar for farmers to learn more about the funding available in England. In this post, you can watch a recording of the session.

Related content and links

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

On this blog, we explain the reforms to agricultural policy in England.

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