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Farming Podcast: improving animal health and welfare on your farm  

In this episode of the Farming podcast, our lead for healthier animals, Martin Jenkins, talks to dairy farmer Karen Halton. They are joined by infectious disease expert and vet James Russell. They explain what to expect from the SFI annual health and welfare review,

Spotlight on updates and additions to livestock and grassland offer

Over the past few weeks, we've summarised the updates to our environmental land management offer by farm type. These posts follow last month's Agricultural Transition Plan update. In this post, we’ll focus on the updated offer for livestock and grassland farmers. 

Farming Podcast: making SFI work on our upland beef and sheep farm

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

In this episode of the Defra Farming podcast, regional engagement lead Michael Sturla talks to Robin and Christopher Milton. The father and son team farm beef and sheep on the Exmoor uplands and have a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement. They describe their experience applying for an agreement, the actions they're undertaking and the benefits.

Watch: future-proofing our farming business with SFI

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

Mother and son team, Tracey and Will, run a dairy and beef farm in Langley Mill, Derbyshire. In this film, they talk through the SFI actions they’ve included in their agreement, including herbal leys in rotational pasture, hedgerows, soils, legume mix with grasses and pest management. They describe how SFI helps them to balance the books, take care of the environment and build the resilience of their farm business.

Slurry Infrastructure grant: last chance to apply

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure
Cows liking each other by a water trough in the sunshine

Round 2 of the Slurry Infrastructure grant will close for applications on Wednesday 17 January. We’re supporting many more projects than we did last year, so if you need slurry storage, now is the time to apply for a grant.  In this post, I’ll give you a recap of the grant and the information you need to get started.

Improving Farm Productivity grants: get ready for Round 2

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for equipment, technology and infrastructure
Solar panels on roof of a farm building in English farmland

In a few weeks’ time, you will once again have the opportunity to apply for an Improving Farm Productivity grant. The grant pays for capital items including robotic, automatic and solar equipment that improve farm and horticulture productivity. To help you prepare, we’ve published guidance on GOV.UK. In this post, I’ll share an overview of the grant, the changes we've made following Round 1 and link to the guidance.

Watch Bodbury Farm: our experience accessing free business advice

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Transition support
Sarah and Byron Odell stand in a field on their Shropshire pig farm

Through the Farming Resilience Fund, farmers and land managers who receive BPS payments can access free, independent business advice. In this film, we travel to Shropshire to meet rare breed pig farmers Sarah and Byron Odell. Together with their adviser Karen Fisher, they describe their business objectives and the advice they were given. 

Annual health and welfare review of livestock now available to more farmers in England

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments to support animal health and welfare
A farmer and vet in discussion in a barn during an annual health and welfare review

I am pleased to tell you that the annual health and welfare review of livestock is now open to non-BPS registered farmers, meaning more livestock keepers in England can now apply. Through the Review, farmers who keep cattle, sheep and pigs can get funding to pay for a vet to visit their farm and carry out a yearly review.

Watch our webinar for livestock and grassland farmers

Sheep grazing in a field in kent

On Monday 20 November, we hosted a webinar for livestock and grassland farmers to learn more about the funding opportunities available in England. The webinar focused on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.