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Blog Farming

Organisations:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

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.

Your questions about the Future Farming Resilience Fund

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Transition support

Last week I wrote a blog post encouraging farmers and land managers to take advantage of the free business support and advice on offer through the Future Farming Resilience Fund. Some people have been in touch to ask various questions about the fund. I wanted everyone to see the responses, so I thought I’d address them in this blog post. 

Update on the Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot 

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Conversations we're having, environmental land management schemes, Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot, Things we're doing, Things we've learned

In July, we opened the applications window for farmers to join our Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot.  In this post, Lisa Applin (Rural Payments Agency) and Tom Lewis (Future Farming and Countryside Programme) share the results of the application process, what the team learned and what they will do next.

Farming Innovation Programme: applications open next week

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for research and innovation

Earlier this summer, we said that we would launch the first competitions of the new Industry-led Research and Development Partnerships Fund in October. I'm pleased to say that we’re on track. The £17.5 million Industry-led Research and Development Partnerships Fund is the first of 3 funds to launch in the new Farming Innovation Programme. Applications for a share of this funding will open Wednesday 20 October 2021.

It’s not too late to get free business advice  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Transition support
Two people talking with farm in shot

One of the things we're doing to support farmers and land managers through the agricultural transition is providing free business support and advice, through a project called the Future Farming Resilience Fund. So far, over 1,200 farming businesses have received support, with scope to help many more. In this post, I’d like to encourage more people to access the free advice that's available. 

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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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