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Blog Farming

Organisations:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

How farmers in protected landscapes are using their funding

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments to support parks, National Landscapes and the Broads

You might remember that the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme opened for applications in July. In August, we shared a video made by some of our Protected Landscape colleagues about the sorts of projects that were eligible for funding. In this post, I’d like to share some examples of the things land managers and farmers are doing with their funding.  

Test and trials: Tackling climate change and extinction - the farm that’s showing the way

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: environmental land management schemes, Guest post, Things we're doing, Things we've learned

Cholderton is a 1000-hectare estate on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border. It participated in one of Defra's environmental land management test and trials to develop a model land management plan based on the exemplary principles adopted by the estate. In this guest post, Merrick Denton-Thompson shares his view.

Preparing for BPS removal: why you should consider Countryside Stewardship 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Countryside Stewardship

In this post, I’d like to share what we’ve done to make Countryside Stewardship a more attractive option for more farmers as they plan for the impact of Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) reductions and subsequent removal. 

The Farming Investment Fund launches today 

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

I’m pleased to say that the Farming Investment Fund launches today. The fund provides grants to farmers, growers, and foresters (including related contractors) so that they can invest in the things they need to improve productivity and enhance the natural environment. In this post, I'll share how you can apply and find out more.

Meet the team: Policy Adviser Emma and her background in agriculture

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: environmental land management schemes, Farmers in Defra, Things we've learned
Emma Bailey-Beech

In this post, Emma Bailey-Beech writes about her background in agriculture and how it led to working on the Future Farming and Countryside Programme. We’re grateful to have people in the team with hands-on experience in the farming sector, and can bring it to bear on our work. 

Tests and trials: innovative payment mechanisms

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Conversations we're having, environmental land management schemes, Things we've learned

One area we’re exploring in tests and trials is the role that innovative payment mechanisms might play in future environmental land management schemes. In this post we share what we’ve learned about reverse auctions so far in tests and trials. 

Bigger, better, more joined-up conservation on farms

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: A view from the farm, Guest post, Things we're doing, Things we've learned

If you want to encourage more of the right wild plants and insects on a group of farms, what parts of your farm should you target to get the best results? This is the question conservation scientist Dr Robert Hawkes explored with colleagues from the University of East Anglia, the Breckland Farmers Wildlife Network and Defra.

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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.

Find out more

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.

Talk to us

On 11 September, we’ll be at UK Dairy Day in Telford and Westmorland Show in Cumbria.

You can find us at these shows and conferences in 2024

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.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive

Find out how SFI can work for you  

Webinars in 2024

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

Using this blog

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