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Know How / Environmental schemes

Each of the UK’s devolved administrations has its own agri-environment scheme – for example, the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in England and the Agri-environment Climate Scheme in Scotland.

Find out what’s involved in signing up to a ‘green scheme’ and get practical tips on putting together your application.

Advice and tips

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

A guide to staying SFI compliant

Unlike more rigid support schemes of the past, the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is all about giving farmers greater flexibility to make actions work for their farm, while simultaneously delivering…

ARABLE

Tips on achieving healthy hedgerows on farm

Hedges are a defining feature of our countryside and one of the best habitats for wildlife on any farm.  Far more than being a boundary, they also support farm business…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

Nutrient mitigation market merits careful consideration

Headlines about housebuilding being held up by environmental measures have abated to some extent, but the need to ensure that new development does not increase the nitrogen and phosphate loading…

ARABLE

How SFI grassy corners and blocks can work most effectively

Grassy corners and blocks are perhaps potentially one of simplest of all the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) options to implement, but, as ever, to deliver the maximum benefit for the…

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Case studies

CROP MANAGEMENT

Why one Essex arable farm faces difficult decisions in 2025

Essex farmer Tom Streeter admits that he and his brother Will have some difficult decisions to make about the future of the family farming business, having looked at the details…

ARABLE

No-till provides zero cost way into support scheme

Kent grower Richard Day is set to use his adoption of direct drilling and precision fertiliser techniques under new environment schemes to gain more than 40% of his old direct…

NEWS

FW Awards: Environmental Champion of the Year 2024

David and Helen Brass of The Lakes Free Range Egg Co, Cumbria are the Farmers Weekly Environmental Champion of the Year 2024 winners. Environmental delivery is a concept that has…

ARABLE

How a sustainability scoring system is helping Kent farm

Knowing how the farm is performing across six different environmental impact areas is important for Kent grower Alan Clifton-Holt, who wants to make the most of any new market opportunities…

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Insights

MARKETS AND TRENDS

Private nature funding opportunities for farmers

Private investment funds have repeatedly claimed that billions of pounds are available to be invested in nature. However, so far, little has actually found its way into farmers’ pockets. One…

PAYMENTS, SCHEMES AND GRANTS

SFI 2024 update: All you need to know

Starting your Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) journey is becoming an increasingly urgent task for farm businesses looking to increase resilience and improve cashflow. SFI has been through multiple revisions since…

SOILS

New reports reveal arable's impact on the environment

Two new reports are being said to provide a clear roadmap for improving soil health, reducing carbon emissions and supporting biodiversity, while also enabling farm businesses to continue operating profitably.…

PARTNERSHIPS

Joining forces brings environment rewards for farmer groups

Neighbouring or like-minded farmers working together to protect nature and deliver for the environment are achieving more through their collective actions.  From community interest companies and cluster groups, to farmer…

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News

FARM POLICY

Farmers frustrated by limited Defra support schemes

Farmers across England are raising concerns over the limited scope of Defra’s funding schemes, with many feeling sidelined unless they focus on woodland creation. Despite recent government claims of record…

ARABLE

Birdsong recorders enable farmers to monitor biodiversity

An innovative project has been launched which uses birdsong to monitor wildlife, thereby enabling farmers to make informed decisions about sustainable practices. A collaboration between the UK Agri-Tech Centre and…

ELM

Monbiot criticises government for environmental grant freeze

Environmental campaigner and writer George Monbiot has condemned the government’s decision to freeze crucial capital grants aimed at funding ecological restoration and sustainable farming practices. Defra has temporarily frozen 76…

ELM

Defra accused of breaking own rules on capital grants

Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) are facing criticism after failing to provide farmers with the promised six weeks’ notice of funding changes to the capital grants scheme, a…

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