Statements of intent from Defra
Steve Reed, the new Secretary of State for Defra has announced an initial direction of travel and priorities. Fuller details are...
top of page
News and views
Search
Doug Hobbs
- Aug 8
- 9 min
Free support and advice about turtle dove habitat
There are lots of good options in SFI 2024 to help nature thrive in the farmed environment in this article we look at one specific...
Greg Crawford
- Aug 6
- 2 min
Latest DEFRA update
Over the last month DEFRA has been welcoming the new ministerial team headed up by Steve Reed, the Secretary of State, and at long last...
Phil Humphrey
- Aug 6
- 5 min
What’s the difference between SFI 2023 and SFI 2024?
SFI 2023 was closed to new applications on 10th June. General applications opened for SFI 2024 on 22nd July although currently, to apply...
Doug Hobbs
- Jul 19
- 1 min
Stacking options for SFI
AHDB have published an article on their website looking at the effects of stacking the SFI 2024 options on the AHDB virtual farms with...
Greg Crawford
- Jul 8
- 5 min
SFI Ramblings
Having spent a lot of time on farms over the past 18months looking at SFI specifically, I thought it was about time to put together an...
Greg Crawford
- Jun 28
- 2 min
SFI uptake and food production
With an election in progress Defra have gone quiet in terms of public announcements but in the background, things are progressing with...
Greg Crawford
- May 30
- 3 min
SFI 2024 update
I hope you all had a good bank holiday weekend. From following the county championship cricket scores, it seems it was a bit of a mixed...
Doug Hobbs
- May 22
- 1 min
Defra's expanded and improved SFI offer: The new, streamlined SFI 2024 scheme set for early June rollout
Defra have published a press release about the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer. Full detail on the expanded SFI offer can be...
Phil Humphrey
- May 15
- 1 min
Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare grant round 1
Some grants aimed at improving welfare for laying hens have been announced, with applications anticipated to open at the end of June. The...
Doug Hobbs
- May 15
- 1 min
Wet weather and temporary adjustments to agri-environment agreements
With rainfall nearly 60% above the 10-year average, Defra have introduced temporary adjustments and easements within the Sustainable...
Phil Humphrey
- Apr 22
- 1 min
Apply now for a water screening study
A new Defra farming blog has just been published. From today, small groups of farmers in England can apply for a Local Resource Option...
Phil Humphrey
- Apr 11
- 1 min
Water Restoration Fund Announced
For people wishing to undertake projects to improve waterways or wetlands, Defra have now opened up applications for two types of grants...
Phil Humphrey
- Apr 11
- 1 min
Farming Recovery Fund open for targeted payments
The government has opened the Farming Recovery Fund to support farmers who suffered uninsurable damage to their land due to flooding this...
Doug Hobbs
- Apr 9
- 1 min
Carbon markets – a new language and opportunity
With net zero targets getting closer and the phasing-out of the Basic Payment Scheme, discussions with land managers around opportunities...
Phil Humphrey
- Mar 26
- 1 min
25% cap to be put on some SFI non-crop land use options
Today (25th March) the government has announced an intention to cap six ‘non-crop’ land use options at 25% of an applicant’s land area....
Doug Hobbs
- Mar 22
- 1 min
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund Update
You can now apply for an Animal Health and Welfare grant through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2024. This means there...
Doug Hobbs
- Mar 18
- 1 min
Is it time to think about growing rice?
Whilst the weather has been wet enough it is perhaps a step too far, although sitting in a meeting looking at underpinning England's...
Phil Humphrey
- Mar 14
- 1 min
The latest farm grants update
As part of the government’s agricultural transition, Defra currently have two capital grant schemes open for applications. Both are...
Phil Humphrey
- Mar 8
- 5 min
What the Spring Budget means for farmers and land managers...
The Government has set out its ongoing commitment to back British farmers through the Spring Budget. In 2024, the farming sector will...
bottom of page