What is happening with Farming Policy?

Following Brexit and the consequent exit from the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), legislation, policy and financial support now comes directly from the British Government.  The current Conservative Government has committed to maintain the same level of support as British farming was afforded under CAP for the lifetime of this Parliament.   

Farming policy is a devolved issue, which means the policy and schemes that apply in England, Wales and Scotland will be different.  With a move away from area based payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), support is now to be delivered through the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs) with a focus on “public money for public goods”.  As existing schemes, including BPS and Countryside Stewardship are phased out during the 7 year agricultural transition period, support will be replaced under the new ELM schemes.

Funding for farmers and land managers 

You can apply for money to improve the environment and your farm’s productivity if you’re a farmer, land manager or forester.  This funding comes in two forms: 

1. Capital: One-off payments 

These payments are for activities that you do once or to help you buy equipment or other items, for example 

• Investing in equipment, technology and infrastructure 
• Research and innovation 
• Improving animal health and welfare 
• Improving the health of trees affected by disease 
• Supporting national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) 
• Restoring peatlands 
• Leaving farming 

1. Revenue: Ongoing payments 

These payments are for activities to produce environmental outcomes that usually take you a year or more to complete, for example 

• Improving the health of soils 
• Understanding moorland 
• Managing habitats, woodlands, flood risk and reducing water pollution 
• Making space for nature on farms and in the countryside 
• Large scale landscape and ecosystem restoration projects 
• Planting trees and managing woodland