Menu

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

BUSINESS

Biodiversity net gain – legal issues for farmers

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) sites are already in demand. Here, Julie Robinson, agriculture partner at Roythornes Solicitors, talks to Farmers Weekly about the legal considerations. See also: Defra BNG credit…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Expert advice for making trees work on your farm

Large-scale tree planting has come under fire for taking up productive farmland and altering the character of local environments. But the right tree, planted in the right place, can generate…

CROP MANAGEMENT

SFI 2023: The support options for arable growers

Arable growers are being encouraged to enter the new 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for England as it is simpler and more flexible than previous financial support packages. The new…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

Privately funded natural capital schemes: What to consider

Still in their infancy, most privately funded natural capital schemes involve taking a long-term approach and creating units and credits that can be bought or sold – usually offering farms…

See all

Case studies

CROP MANAGEMENT

How a regen farm is reducing inputs to meet SFI targets

The drive to reduce the use of artificial inputs is under way at Raby Farms in County Durham, with the business recognising the economic and environmental benefits of being less…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

How agriculture policies affect our Arable Insights farmers

Uncertainty still reigns over Scotland and Northern Ireland’s future agricultural policy, while English farmers are now able to apply for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) income, albeit having had their Basic…

ARABLE

Arable farm finds new income streams with nature-based system

Nature-based solutions are being put to the test on a Cotswolds arable farm, both locally and at scale, to see what benefits and rewards they have to offer. Dunthrop Farms…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Wetlands and agroforestry central to farm's funding future

A move away from conventional arable and food production is underway at Spains Hall Estate. The combination of agroforestry, woodland and wetlands being created across 500ha will provide ecosystem services…

See all

Insights

ARABLE

How a coastal group's audit is focusing biodiversity effort

The North Norfolk Coastal Group came together with the aim of collaborating to bring nature back to the farmed environment. The group represents more than 55,000ha of coastal habitat –…

See all

News

NEWS

East Sussex estate signs landmark biodiversity net gain deal

Thirty-one hectares of downland on an East Sussex estate are being taken out of production in favour of a biodiversity net gain (BNG) scheme. The Iford Estate, near Lewes, is…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

SFI 2023: RPA issues early payments to first farmers

The first farmers who signed up to the Sustainable Farming Incentive have been receiving advance payments worth 25% of the value of annual agreements. There have been more than 14,000…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

NFU seeks more details on SFI hedgerow standard

The NFU is seeking further guidance from Defra about how farmers can comply with the entry-level hedgerow standard under the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. Defra has introduced a new standard…

ARABLE

Growers to benefit from free IPM tool for SFI option

With Integrated Pest Management (IPM) planning now a paid action under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), a group of organisations has launched a free IPM Planning Tool to help farmers…

See all