Capital Grants help farmers, land managers and rural businesses carry out practical improvements that benefit the environment across England.
The 2026 Capital Grants offer is scheduled to open in late July. Funding will be available for a wide range of projects, from planting trees and hedgerows to improving water quality.
Supporting evidence has always been an important and necessary part of…
Edward Earnshaw is a third-generation farmer in Gloucestershire.
In this video, Edward explains how Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions are helping his small family farm streamline management, cut input costs, and boost profitability while delivering environmental benefits.
The Farming Blog is where we, Defra's Farming and Countryside Team, share…
As part of our commitment to keep you informed about the progress of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26), we said we would publish updates as funding is allocated.
We can confirm that around 25% of the Window 1 budget has now been allocated, based on applications received so far.
As expected when Window 1 opened, demand was strong on the first day, with a high number of applications.…
In this post, we cover the opening of the first application window for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) offer.
This post also includes information for small farms eligible to apply in Window 1 if they have existing environmental land management (ELM) revenue agreements due to expire by the end of February 2027.
The first application window for the…
Credit: Lisa John
Lowland peat has long supported profitable farming, but current water management practices can lead to soil loss and land subsidence.
From today, farmers and land managers on lowland peat soils can apply for 2 new grants which support farmers and land managers to balance productive businesses with benefits for climate, nature and water.
Alongside the __ Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England's Future, we have published our response to the Farming Profitability Review (FPR), an independent review led by farmer and former NFU President, Baroness Minette Batters.
Commissioned in April 2025, the review looked at how government and industry could work together to improve the profitability, resilience and long-term sustainability of…
We're pleased to share that the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP),will receive an additional £53 million investment this year.
This means that those trialling new technologies and innovative approaches to cut costs, improve productivity and strengthen business resilience on farms will be able to benefit from a total investment of £123 million across the 2026/27 financial year.
The additional…
Today we published Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England's Future.
The Farming Roadmap brings the government's long-term strategies, reforms and commitments for farming together in one place.
It provides a flexible framework for the sector’s journey towards 2050, recognising that there is no single route to success.
It enables different farming systems and businesses to adapt in ways that best…
As the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), I’m launching a new survey for the UK pig sector**** to better understand current challenges, awareness of the Fair Dealing Obligations, and experiences across the supply chain.
The survey is now live and invites producers, processors and others working across the industry to share their experiences and reflections.
The UK pig sector has…
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides grants to support investment in equipment and technology across 3 themes: productivity, slurry management, and animal health and welfare.
The fund helps farmers, growers, foresters, and contractors buy equipment and technology that can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen profitability.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is now…
Following the publication of the final Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) scheme information today, we're hosting a webinar with the Farming Advice Service (FAS) on 25 June.
The session will provide an opportunity to hear directly from members of the SFI policy team, who will talk through the scheme and answer your questions about the offer.
Colleagues from the Rural Payments Agency…
Credit: Graham Higgins
Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle has confirmed that the total budget for new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreements will be £240 million.
This builds on around £560 million already committed to farmers delivering over 39,000 live SFI agreements.
Of the £240 million available for SFI26, up to £60 million has been allocated to Window 1, which is aimed at 2…
Credit: ADOPT Support Hub
With new funding rounds now open, farmers and growers have another opportunity to apply for support through the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund.
Trying something new can involve time, cost and uncertainty. ADOPT helps reduce that risk by funding practical, on-farm trials and demonstrations led by farmers themselves.
The focus is on…
If you’re working on an innovation that could improve farming in England, there’s still time to apply for funding through the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition.
The deadline to apply is 17 June at 11am.
The competition is part of the Farming Innovation Programme, which is run by Defra in partnership with Innovate UK.
It combines government funding with private investment to…
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, remains a serious risk for poultry keepers across England. It spreads quickly and can have serious consequences if it reaches a flock.
If the disease is confirmed on a farm, birds usually have to be culled to stop it spreading. Restrictions may also be placed on moving birds, eggs and equipment, which can disrupt businesses and supply chains.
England…
Near-final scheme information for this year's Sustainable Farming Incentive offer (SFI26) is now available on GOV.UK.
We expect to open the first application window (“Window 1”) from 30 June 2026 for 2 groups:
small farms
farms without an existing Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement
Before we do this, we will invite a small number of farmers who are eligible for…
In our previous post, Improving EU trade: what you need to know, we explained how the government is working towards a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the European Union (EU).
The agreement aims to make it easier to trade and move plants, animals, food and related products between the UK and EU. It is expected to take effect from around mid-2027.
This may affect your business…
Guidance for the 2026 Capital Grants offer is now available on GOV.UK.
The Capital Grants 2026 manual consists of:
A total of £225 million will be invested through Capital Grants this year to help farmers and land managers carry out environmental improvements across England.
Applications open in July, with…
Groups of farmers in England can now apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study.
An LRO is a local water project designed to improve the reliability and resilience of water supplies in an area.
The studies help neighbouring farmers explore and rank practical options for improving water supply resilience and securing reliable access to water for the future.
This year, applications…
Last summer, we visited a group of farmers in the Derbyshire White Peak. They shared what they’ve learned from growing herbal leys in improved grassland systems.
Working with Natural England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser Ben Rodgers, who coordinates the project, farmers in the area have been trialling herbal leys over several years.
Together, they are exploring how multi-species swards…
Last month, we asked farmers and land managers to share their experiences of rising fertiliser costs and how they are affecting on -farm decisions.
Many respondents said rising and unpredictable prices have led them to buy and apply less fertiliser.
Some farmers also told us they are planning to change how they use fertiliser in future, including using alternatives or changing cropping…
Across England, farmers and land managers are sharing knowledge, testing new approaches, and finding practical solutions that benefit both their businesses and the environment.
We want to build on that momentum.
Once it opens for applications, the Farmer Collaboration Fund will support farmer-led groups to work together more effectively. It will do this by funding:
A new Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, is now open for applications.
£5 million in government grant funding, part of the wider Farming Innovation Programme, is available to attract private investment and support businesses developing near-commercial, on-farm innovations.
The grant helps bring in private investment by reducing the…
Last month, we published a post about a consultation on proposed measures to improve livestock health and welfare in England.
This is a reminder that the consultation will close on 18 May at 23:59. If you have not yet responded, we encourage you to share your views before the deadline.
We’d like to hear your views on the following proposals:
As we explained in our last blog post, the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 offer (SFI26) will have 2 application windows.
The first window (‘Window 1’) will open in June 2026 for 2 groups:
The second window will open in September 2026 for all farmers and land managers.
Credit: Christopher Moses
You can now apply for a Lowland Peat Water Discovery Grant. Up to £4.5 million is available to help farmers and local partners explore more sustainable ways of managing water in lowland peat areas.
Peatlands hold over half of England’s land-based carbon. When they’re healthy and wet, they lock in carbon and support wildlife, cleaner water and natural…
A lamb creep feeder with shelter (item FETF238A). This item is eligible for funding under the animal health and welfare theme of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. Credit: Philip Halling
Investing in new equipment or technology can make a real difference to farm businesses.
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) (FETF 2026) is designed to help make those investments more…
The UK government is working on a new food trade agreement with the European Union (EU) to make it easier for farmers and food producers to trade.
This agreement is called the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. It aims to simplify the checks required for agri‑food products moving between the UK and the EU. This includes goods traded with Northern Ireland.
The aim is to cut unnecessary…
The Rhizopellet, developed by Rhizocore Technologies Ltd, contains locally sourced fungi tailored to each tree planting site. Used during planting, it helps young trees establish strong roots and thrive over the long term. Credit: Rhizocore Technology Ltd.
The Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition supports businesses developing innovations that are close to market for use on…
In this episode, Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) adviser Hannah Barrett speaks to two arable farmers. Charlie Ennals farms in Norfolk and Thomas Gent farms in Cambridgeshire.
They discuss how natural processes, like soil and water management, can help farms reduce costs and be more resilient to extreme weather.
Both farmers say conditions are becoming harder…
