Introducing the Moorland and Rough Grazing Standard

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: environmental land management schemes, Payments to better understand moorland, Sustainable Farming Incentive

I recently joined the Sustainable Farming Incentive team to help develop some of the standards for 2022/23. In particular, those focused on upland farming and moorland management. In this post, I'll share more about the Moorland and Rough Grazing Standard.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive: what’s new, improved and coming in 2022

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: environmental land management schemes, Payments to better understand moorland, Payments to improve soil health, Sustainable Farming Incentive

Today we published further information on the Sustainable Farming Incentive. You can find it, in full, on GOV.UK. In this post, I’ll share a summary of the things that are new, the things we’ve changed following feedback and what you can expect in 2022.

How farmers in protected landscapes are using their funding

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments to support National 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.