News and communications

The government is introducing new measures to limit the amount of land farmers can take out of productive actions under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)

• Updated: 25 March 2024

The claim window for existing Countryside Stewardship (CS) revenue and Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements has opened on Thursday 14 March.

• Updated: 14 March 2024

Government announces an extension to the existing scope of Agricultural Property Relief.

• Updated: 7 March 2024

Prime Minister and Environment Secretary attend NFU Conference and announce range of measures to ensure all farmers and producers are treated fairly.

• Updated: 20 February 2024

Environment Secretary announces major updates for farmers, with an increase in funding and reduction in red tape this summer.

• Updated: 4 January 2024

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed that 97% of farmers have received their final BPS payment in the first few days of the payment window.

• Updated: 4 December 2023

The project “Upscaling innovative ‘planting-baskets’ to restore landscape diversity, and enhance climate-resilient livelihoods” is a Darwin Initiative Innovation Project, funded through the UK government’s Biodiversity Chall…

• Updated: 27 October 2023

Farming groups and landowners encouraged to bid for share of £2.5 million Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund

• Updated: 23 October 2023

The first farmers to sign up for the new and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have this week received their first payment.

• Updated: 18 October 2023

The new and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has started to accept applications from today.

• Updated: 18 September 2023

The 2024 Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreement application deadline has been extended until the 15th September.

• Updated: 18 August 2023

Over £14 million is being made available in two new competition rounds to back research into innovative farming solutions.

• Updated: 2 August 2023

Funding drives forward government’s commitment to increase farm productivity and build on our world-leading animal health and welfare standards

• Updated: 26 July 2023

The Rural Payments Agency will issue the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) advance payments on 1 August.

• Updated: 25 July 2023

Mark Spencer drives tractor to Parliament to shine a light on mental health in rural communities

• Updated: 6 July 2023

Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition will combine private investment with grant funding to scale up innovation in farming sector.

• Updated: 3 July 2023

The Sustainable Farming Incentive 2023 will start accepting applications from August, offering an improved, more streamlined process for farmers.

• Updated: 21 June 2023

£31 million has been made available for equipment and technology to boost farm productivity, increase environmental sustainability and help slurry management.

• Updated: 8 June 2023

Plans to strip out retained EU red tape to give our wine industry the freedom to flourish

• Updated: 21 May 2023

Read this update for information about our schemes, including Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, the Basic Payment Scheme and the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

• Updated: 14 April 2023