29 November

The Welsh Government has released their updated outline plan for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) for 2026, the primary source of government support for Welsh farming. Changes include dropping the requirement for Welsh farmers to have trees on 10% of their land to qualify for payments under the SFS, a move welcomed by many farmers.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has drafted guidance on storm overflows and is seeking consultation responses on this guidance until January 2025. The guidance covers existing policy and legislation and aims to support water companies in managing storm overflows in England.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has suspended capital grants – subsidies for actions which deliver environment outcomes for boundaries, trees and orchards, water and air quality, and natural flood management. Over 76 grant items have been suspended, with Defra citing ‘unprecedented demand’, leaving farmers’ applications to these grants on hold until early next year.

Following the farmers’ protests in Whitehall last week, Sir Keir Starmer held a private meeting with Tom Bradshaw, leader of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) to discuss the inheritance tax changes. Multiple think tanks have recommended delaying the tax changes to avoid the ‘unfair’ treatment of farmers.

Scientists from the University of Plymouth are developing a robot mounted with a gamma ray detector which could help in mapping soil health in farmland. Following on-farm testing, farmers and researchers have claimed that the technology, faster and more accurate than conventional soil analysis, could make farms more profitable.

NRM, an independent agronomic and environmental laboratory, has published its UK soil analysis report for 2023/4, compiling data from thousands of soil samples. The report has once again revealed nutrient imbalances across over two thirds of UK soils, with NRM recommending more regular on-farm soil testing to better inform land management strategies and improved crop production.

Researchers at Scotland’s Rural College have received a £566,000 grant to help transition livestock farms for net zero goals. Scientists will use the funds to analyse soil health and carbon storage in lowland and upland grass and to measure greenhouse gas emissions from grazing livestock.

NHS figures have shown an increase in doctors prescribing nature, outdoors and community activities to tackle mental illness. Green social prescribing has been described as a "key component" of the NHS, with many studies showing the health benefits of gardening, nature connectivity, and grounding in the soil.