Energy & Environment

Why we're putting area limits on some SFI actions

Since we opened the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for applications, we've continued to refine the scheme. One of the things we've been monitoring is the impact of those actions which take land out of food production. In this post, we'll explain why we're putting area limits on some SFI actions.

Updated: Thu Mar 28 2024

Animal Health and Welfare grants now available

You can now apply for an Animal Health and Welfare grant through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2024. These grants go towards the cost of items on a list that support animal health and welfare. We developed the list with farmers, vets and other experts. There are over 130 items on the list and 29 are new for this round. You'll see a range of items: from mobile cattle handling systems to enclosed piglet creeps to poultry perches. If you're a livestock farmer, it's worth taking a look.

Updated: Wed Mar 20 2024

Harnessing the hidden power of restored saltmarshes for carbon capture

A recent collaboration involving the Environment Agency, the environmental consultancy Jacobs and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is shining a light on the role of restored saltmarshes in storing blue carbon - carbon captured by the oceans and coastal ecosystems. The ...

Updated: Fri Mar 01 2024

Farming Podcast: making SFI work on our upland beef and sheep farm

In this episode of the Defra Farming podcast, regional engagement lead Michael Sturla talks to Robin and Christopher Milton. The father and son team farm beef and sheep on the Exmoor uplands and have a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement. They describe their experience applying for an agreement, the actions they're undertaking and the benefits.

Updated: Tue Feb 27 2024

Waste criminals - we've got you in our sights

By Joanna Larmour, deputy director of the Environment Agency's National Enforcement Service Waste crime has been going on for too long - and the Environment Agency is taking action. That's why we're committing more resources than ever to find, identify ...

Updated: Tue Feb 27 2024

XL Bully registrations

We look at the latest number of XL Bullies registered with an exemption scheme in England and Wales.

Updated: Tue Feb 27 2024

Media coverage on reforms to waste electricals regulations

Media coverage on reforms to waste electricals regulations There has been coverage over the weekend (Sunday 25 February) on our consultation on reforming the producer responsibility system for electrical waste. On 28 December 2023, the UK Government, along with ...

Updated: Mon Feb 26 2024

Watch: webinar for tenant farmers

On Thursday 8 February, we hosted a webinar for tenant farmers. In the session, we gave an overview of the actions and payments available through our environmental land management schemes in 2024. This post includes the recording of the webinar.

Updated: Fri Feb 23 2024

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2024: guidance now available

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2024 includes 3 grants to help you buy items to improve productivity, manage slurry and improve animal health and welfare. Today, we published the grant guidance on GOV.UK. In this post, I'll give an overview, include links and share details of an upcoming webinar on 12 March for you to learn more.

Updated: Tue Feb 20 2024

A test and trials spotlight: Weald to Waves

Farmers and land managers participating in Weald to Waves share their experiences of taking part in tests and trials. The test is part of a wider project, led by Knepp Estate, which aims to build a wildlife corridor stretching from Ashdown Forest to the Sussex coast. Along the way, they share with us how they brought together farmers on the route to develop group agreements, management plans and funding mechanisms for the corridor.

Updated: Wed Feb 14 2024

Chasing down the money to stop waste crime

There is an old saying - 'where there's muck there's brass' and criminals have worked that out. We know organised criminals who make their money through serious and organised crimes, such as drugs and firearms, are using the waste management ...

Updated: Wed Feb 07 2024

Spotlight on new actions for arable and horticulture farmers

At the beginning of the month, we published a post which summarised the recent Agricultural Transition Plan update. The update includes the full range of new and improved actions plus the payment rates available this year. Following the update, we said we'd set out the offer for each farm type in a series of posts. This post is for arable and horticultural farmers.

Updated: Wed Feb 07 2024