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Farming Do agri-environment schemes actually deliver environmental benefits? (England) The effectiveness of agri-environment schemes (AES) is monitored by Natural England on behalf of Defra. To do this, Natural England gathers evidence and carries out research on the AES each year. The key points from this year’s evidence annual report, which summarised seven research projects, are: […]

Changes to the rules on succession for Agricultural Holdings Act (AHA) tenancy agreements came into effect on 1 September 2024. This is the final element of the Agriculture Act 2020 to be implemented. The changes follow recommendations from the Tenancy Reform Industry Group with the aim of improving agricultural productivity and ensuring that the best […]

Farming Further updates to the Sustainable Farming Incentive Defra updated the guidance for the SFI in early August.  The main changes are: Some changes to the guidance on how to manage land under some of the actions.  For example, legume fallow is now a rotational option again, which provides much more flexibility than the static […]

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied at a local level. On 31 July 2024, the government put out to consultation a series of proposals for revisions to the NPPF. The consultation period ends on 24 September 2024. The focus of […]

Farming Positives and negatives in the NAO’s latest assessment of ELM and changes in farm support in England The NAO has published its third report on Defra’s progress on the Farming and Countryside Programme, which is the programme that includes the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes and the productivity and advice grants, such as the […]

The price of agricultural land in England is very variable, with arable land values ranging from £6,500/acre to a high of £17,000/acre during the first six months of the year. Latest analysis of the Farmland Database – which records the sale of all farms, estates and blocks of publicly marketed land in England over 100 […]

Strutt & Parker has carried out analysis of the uptake of different actions available through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to quantify how much of an impact the scheme could have on the environment, farm incomes and food production. The research has involved modelling different actions taken up by arable, lowland grassland and upland grassland […]

Farming Farming secretary on Labour’s support for the sector Steve Reed gave his first interview to the farming press at the Great Yorkshire Show. Much of what he said followed previous announcements and the Labour manifesto. Key points from his interview with the BBC’s Farming Today include: “I think there should be direct support for […]

Farmers in Scotland are reminded that they need to make sure they meet the new rules on ‘Whole Farm Plans’ by 15 May 2025 to qualify for their Basic Payment. The Scottish Government has recently issued an update on changes to agricultural support payments that come into effect in 2025. Much of the detail has […]

The changing climate is increasing the risk posed to trees from a range of pests and diseases. Three of the most problematic for UK forestry and woodland are currently: Ips typographus (Eight Toothed Spruce Bark Beetle). Oak Processionary Moth Ash dieback The following is a summary of the current position on each of these, with […]

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme, which is an agri-environmental scheme available to all farmers in England, has been through multiple revisions since it was first piloted in 2022. The latest of these is an expanded 2024 offer, which builds on the 2023 version of the scheme but introduces new options focused on precision farming, […]

Change of government Plans for farming and the countryside We have summarised what we know about Labour’s policy on farming, food and the environment in the bulletin published on 5 July. The main points for England are: No big changes expected to farm or agri-environment policy. Commitment to current spending levels this year and will […]