The SFI pilot: designing the improved offer with farmers 

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SFI pilot farmers discuss their work at a workshop

Since 2021, over 800 farmers in England have been testing an early version of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), delivering 10,000 actions on their land. In this post, I’ll explain how farmers in the pilot have helped us to shape the current and future offer. I'll also include a video which gives an overview of our work.

Watch: webinar on the farming offer in 2024

On Friday 26 January, we held a webinar for farmers. During the session, we went through the actions and payments available through our environmental land management schemes in 2024. This post includes a link to the recording.

Supporting the tenanted sector in England

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Tenant farmers are at the heart of the rural economy, managing a third of all farmland in England. To meet our food security and environmental objectives, we must make sure that all farmers, including tenant farmers, can access our schemes and build thriving farm businesses. In this post, we’ll explain how we are continuing to …

Landscape Recovery: sharing the successful second round projects

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Two men and a dog stand in the Axe landscape

In this post, I'm pleased to share the 34 successful projects in the second round of Landscape Recovery. This £25 million round will fund 12 more projects than the previous round, demonstrating our commitment to funding that delivers environmental benefits in harmony with food production. 

Watch: a test and trial update from Aqualate Mere

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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.

Watch: Trialling farmer-led land management plans at Aqualate Mere, Staffordshire

In this film, farmers from the Aqualate Mere catchment share their experiences of taking part in Tests and Trials. This test created a land management plan and worked to set priorities for the catchment, incorporating biodiversity, water quality and carbon sequestration.

How we're increasing productivity and enhancing nature on our farm

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Sheep inside a building with people talking in the background

In the latest in our series of films from the Lake District, we visit Miller Farming in Penruddock. Upland farmers, Garry and Hazel Miller, have sheep, cows, and free-range hens. They talk about how they’ve increased productivity and enhanced nature at the same time.

Landscape Recovery: apply for the second round

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Landscape Recovery funds long-term, large-scale, bespoke projects designed to enhance the natural environment and deliver significant environmental benefits. I’m pleased to say that you can now apply for the second round. The deadline is midday on Thursday 21 September. In this post, I’ll share an overview and links for you to learn more.

Watch: How the Sustainable Farming Incentive works hand in hand with arable crop production

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SFI and arable farming Caroline-Knox

We went to the Isle of Wight to meet SFI agreement holder Caroline Knox. In this film, Caroline explains how the Sustainable Farming Incentive works hand in hand with commercial maize and rye production on her farm.