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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

ARABLE

Advice for arable growers with stewardship ending this year

Take the opportunity to replace expiring Countryside Stewardship schemes with new, enhanced agreements while you still get paid to participate, farmers are being advised. Rather than just extending an existing…

CROP MANAGEMENT

How growers can plan with support worth only one-third of BPS

Arable growers looking at new “public money for public good” environmental schemes are likely to earn only one-third of their current area-based subsidies, which are being phased out. This funding…

TENANCIES AND RENTS

How tenants could benefit from natural capital initiatives

Tenancy agreements mostly rule out long-term environmental schemes such as tree planting and rewilding. However, generating an income from carbon offsetting and sequestration, nutrient neutrality units, biodiversity and third-party access…

GRANTS

Guide to funding for tree projects on farm

With the clear benefits to farmland and the growing links between farm payments and environmental works, more and more farmers are keen to create woodlands. All four UK nations now…

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Case studies

ELM

Famous Yorks estate prepares for new environmental schemes

One large North Yorkshire estate has mapped out its biodiversity and carbon footprint to give it a head start in applying for complex "public money for public goods" environmental schemes.…

ARABLE

Bold agri-environment choice takes land out of production

Protecting and improving the environment is a priority for Robert Law, who has always made good use of agri-environment schemes across the 1,800ha of farmland that he oversees on the…

ARABLE

Why a climate-positive farm shows value of natural capital

The 1,000ha Cholderton Estate has achieved climate-positive status by capturing more greenhouse gases than it emits, while showing that it is possible to run a profitable farming business in countryside…

MACHINERY

Worcs farmer taps into grants to revamp machinery fleet

Investing in new technology can be cripplingly expensive for a small farm, but securing funds from relevant grant schemes makes it possible to lighten the financial burden. James Kent and…

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Insights

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Natural capital: Opportunities for livestock producers

Natural capital is a way of viewing the environment as a set of assets that benefit wider society, rather than any single individual or organisation. Changes to on-farm slurry management,…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

How farmers can benefit from biodiversity net gain

A market opportunity for farmers and landowners is emerging from new planning rules requiring developers to improve biodiversity. Expected to be mandatory across England within the next two years, the…

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

What farmers can do to unlock the value of natural capital

Natural capital is the cornerstone of agricultural policy across the UK. The term encompasses all of nature’s assets: soil, air and water and every living thing, including trees and woodland.…

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News

AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION

Sustainable Farming Incentive applications open in England

Farmers and landowners in England are being urged to take part in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the first element of the government’s new Environmental Land Management (ELM) programme. The…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

New cover crops funding scheme open in south-east England

Farmers in two target areas of Kent are now able to express their interest in taking part in a cover crop funding scheme. The scheme will be run in an…

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES

Morrisons tree advisers to help farmers meet planting targets

A team of specialist advisers will provide guidance on tree planting to farmers supplying Morrisons. The supermarket chain is employing specialists to give advice on which varieties of trees to…

ELM

Sustainable Farming Incentive opens for applications 30 June

English farmers will be able to apply to take part in the Sustainable Farming Incentive – the first element of the government’s new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme – from…

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