KEY FARMING ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE NFU CONFERENCE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
March 2025
Last week at the NFU Conference, DEFRA Secretary of State Steve Reed made several important announcements that will shape the future of farming in England. These updates, which will be funded by the Delinked Payment reductions, cover a wide range of initiatives, grants, and schemes designed to support farmers and rural businesses. Here’s a closer look at the key changes, what they mean for the industry, and what to expect moving forward.
Key Schemes and Changes Announced
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The Farming Profitability Unit
One of the major announcements was the creation of a Farming Profitability Unit within DEFRA. This new unit aims to provide ongoing support to farmers in improving profitability and long-term sustainability. -
Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS)
The SAWS has been extended for another five years, with the understanding that worker numbers may decline as more emphasis is placed on automation. The scheme, which helps provide the seasonal workforce needed by farms, will evolve to meet new demands for technology and innovation. -
Capital Grants for 2025/26
A big focus was on new capital grants, which will become available in 2025/26. There will be up to £25,000 available for projects related to water quality, air quality, and natural flood management, and £35,000 for trees and boundaries. For farms that applied in 2024 but had their applications suspended, processing will now continue in 2025/26. -
Farm Equipment & Technology Fund (FETF)
A final round of funding will be launched this spring under the Farm Equipment & Technology Fund (FETF), which will focus on supporting farmers with innovative equipment aimed at improving productivity and efficiency. This is part of a broader push to introduce more agricultural technology to the industry. -
£30 Million Productivity & Slurry Fund
A £30 million fund will be introduced to help farmers improve slurry management, which is critical for both environmental protection and farm productivity. This fund will be available for those looking to modernize and innovate in waste management. -
ADOPT Scheme: Supporting Innovation
The ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) scheme, which was first highlighted at the Oxford Farming Conference, will see up to ten competitive rounds starting in the spring. This scheme will fund innovation projects focused on advancing farming practices and technologies, with funding available between £50,000 and £100,000 for successful projects. -
Farming Innovation Programme
As part of the ongoing effort to promote innovation and net zero initiatives, the Farming Innovation Programme will provide £63 million in funding. This will support projects focused on precision breeding and technologies designed to reduce the carbon footprint of farming operations.
Environmental Land Management (ELMS)
The Environmental Land Management (ELMS) schemes also received attention. While there wasn’t much new information on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the scheme could be impacted by the upcoming Spending Review, so it’s important to stay updated.
The Environmental Land Management (ELMS) schemes also received attention. While there wasn’t much new information on the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the scheme could be impacted by the upcoming Spending Review, so it’s important to stay updated.
A few key updates include:
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Landscape Recovery Schemes will now move to implementation. This is a positive development, as these schemes focus on significant landscape-scale environmental improvements.
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Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) participants will see payment increases and will be contacted by DEFRA by the end of April.
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Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier will be entering a pre-application phase after an initial, invitation-only rollout.
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Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) will be extended until 2026, helping farmers in designated areas continue to manage their land sustainably.
What’s Next?
One of the most anticipated events will be Keir Starmer’s British Food Summit, planned for the summer. This summit is expected to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the future of food production and security in the UK.
One of the most anticipated events will be Keir Starmer’s British Food Summit, planned for the summer. This summit is expected to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the future of food production and security in the UK.
There’s also continued debate regarding Labour’s manifesto commitment to ensuring that half of the food procured by the public sector comes from British farming or sources with equivalent standards. While some reports suggest financial constraints might hinder this commitment, a survey of current public sector procurement is expected to take place soon, marking the first step in this direction.
Looking Ahead
As these changes begin to roll out, it’s clear that innovation, technology, and sustainability will be at the forefront of farming policy over the coming years. Farmers should keep an eye out for new opportunities in grants and funding that could help with everything from environmental management to business modernisation.
As these changes begin to roll out, it’s clear that innovation, technology, and sustainability will be at the forefront of farming policy over the coming years. Farmers should keep an eye out for new opportunities in grants and funding that could help with everything from environmental management to business modernisation.
Bentons are here to assist you through these changes, providing expert guidance and support to ensure your business can navigate the evolving landscape of farming policies and funding opportunities.