Get ready to apply for SFI26
Get ready to apply for SFI26
Initial information on the SFI26 scheme is now live on GOV.UK for farmers who may be eligible to apply in Window 1.
Our virtual farm visits
Farm visits are an opportunity for farmers to tell us about the issues they are facing and to make clear the realities of farming. Due to COVID-19, physical farm visits stopped. The experience was too valuable to abandon, so we created virtual farm visits instead. Michael Sturla shares more.
Future Farming Podcast: Neil Heseltine
Posted by:
The Team and Janet Hughes, Posted on:
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Categories:
Conversations we're having, Future Farming Podcast
In our first ever podcast, Programme Director Janet Hughes talks to farmer Neil Heseltine. Neil shares his approach to farming and his views on the Future Farming and Countryside Programme. Janet and Neil also discuss sustainability, profitability and care for our environment.
Video: Farming Forum Q&A
Farmers were invited to put their questions to Defra’s Janet Hughes and David Kennedy at The Farming Forum's most recent Question Time. Questions included payment rates, the role of advisers and how new schemes and services will be tested.
Opening Countryside Stewardship for 2022 agreements
Posted by:
The Team, Posted on:
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Categories:
Countryside Stewardship, environmental land management schemes
Our Countryside Stewardship scheme is now open for 2022 agreements. Countryside Stewardship will eventually be replaced with the new Environmental Land Management scheme. By entering an agreement now, farmers will benefit from the new agricultural policy once it is fully rolled out in 2024.
Listening to farmers to shape farming policy
Social Researcher, Hannah Baker shares how her team is working to ensure farmers’ voices are ‘on the table’ during discussions about farming policy.
Your views on our plans for sustainable use of pesticides
We want to know what you think about our revised national action plan for the sustainable use of pesticides. The draft plan covers the next 5 years and aims to minimise the risks and impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment, while ensuring pests and pesticide resistance are managed effectively.
The year ahead: details and delivery
This is the year of details and delivery for the future farming programme as we work to implement the Agricultural Transition Plan. In this post, Janet Hughes explains what you can expect to see happen this year.
First steps for our co-design workshops
We want to improve the way we set and enforce the rules for agriculture, animal welfare and the environment. We invited a people to join us in the first in a series of interactive workshops to look at the issues and share their views. In this post, Chris Dennis shares what the team learned.
What we mean by “co-design”
I want to set out what we mean by "co-design", because it's a word we're going to be using a lot.
Tests and trials: Working with farmers to design the future of environmental land management
Posted by:
Louise Maguire, Posted on:
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Categories:
environmental land management schemes, Farming and Countryside Team
The Future Farming Countryside Programme will co-design the future of farming with farmers. We’re working with farmers to test their ideas until we have a format that works. This post explains our 'Test and Trial' approach. As we go along, we learn what works, what doesn’t and how we can improve.
Related content and links
New: Nutrient Management Planning Tool
Agricultural property relief
From 6 April 2026, full inheritance tax relief will apply to the first £2.5 million of qualifying agricultural and business assets, with lower relief applying to any value above this. Learn more
Talk to us
9 May Nottinghamshire Show at Newark Showground, Newark.
13–14 May The British Pig & Poultry Fair at the NEC Campus in Birmingham.
16 May The Hadleigh Show, Holbecks Park, Hadleigh, Ipswich.
17 May Essex Young Farmers Show, Boyton Hall, Roxwell, Chelmsford.
Livestock disease guidance
Get advice
The Farming Advice Service (FAS) provides free, confidential advice to farmers and advisers.
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) helps farmers in England protect water, air and soil. CSF advisers can provide advice on best practices and specific actions that will benefit your farm business and the environment.
We’ve compiled a list of organisations offering wellbeing support to those in the farming community.
