Improving the Farming and Countryside Programme: A Call for True Partnership with Land Managers

The farming sector is often overlooked despite its essential role in the UK economy. While contributing only 0.6% to GDP (£13.9 billion in 2022), it produces 62% of the country’s food and manages 70% of its land. Beyond food, farming shapes the countryside, sustains biodiversity, and supports rural communities. The UK’s exit from the EU marked a significant shift in agricultural policy, with the introduction of the Agricultural Transition Plan (2021–2028) through the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

However, a review of the October 2024 budget announcement reveals a concerning lack of real-term funding growth, with the allocation for Defra holding steady since 2014 despite inflation. Given the increasing demands on the department, there is rising concern over whether the current budget and framework can truly deliver on the Programme’s ambitious goals.

This blog takes a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Farming and Countryside Programme and presents a challenge: Why isn’t Defra focused on achieving tangible outcomes, nor actively working with land managers as genuine partners in delivering high-quality, impactful projects?

Strengths of the Programme

A Holistic Approach
Defra’s Farming and Countryside Programme sets out a vision to balance food production, environmental goals, and economic sustainability. By 2028, the aim is for the agricultural sector to become self-sustaining, with a significant contribution to climate change mitigation and long-term environmental improvement.

Innovative Payment and Support Schemes
Transitioning from EU direct payments to outcome-based agri-environment schemes is a step in the right direction. Initiatives such as:

• The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) supporting soil health and hedgerow management
• Countryside Stewardship focusing on biodiversity and habitats
• Landscape Recovery funding large-scale, long-term environmental projects

These schemes, alongside productivity grants like the Farming Investment Fund (FIF) and the Farming Innovation Programme, are designed to enhance efficiency and sustainability within the sector.

Responsive and Adaptive Approach
Defra has shown flexibility, adjusting schemes based on feedback, such as premium payments for higher environmental outcomes and capping land use for certain actions. These efforts demonstrate a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and requirements.

Increased Farmer Participation
Over 40,700 farmers engaged in agri-environment schemes by April 2024, far surpassing initial participation targets. However, we must ask: Is this level of engagement truly reflective of farmers’ long-term trust in the system, or is it the result of limited options available under the new policy?

Weaknesses and Challenges

A Trust Deficit and Lack of Partnership
A significant issue within the Farming and Countryside Programme is the continued gap in trust between Defra and farmers. Only 35% of farmers in 2023 expressed confidence in Defra’s ability to drive meaningful change, with many feeling uncertain about how schemes will balance food production and environmental outcomes.

This leads to a critical question: Why isn’t Defra more proactive in engaging with farmers as genuine partners in the decision-making process? Farmers possess extensive knowledge and practical experience of the land, yet many feel their expertise is sidelined in favour of top-down policies that don’t always align with their needs.

Another consideration is whether Defra has the internal resources with a deep enough understanding of agriculture and rural affairs. The recent success of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in processing Sustainable Farming Incentive applications in just eight days—an impressive administrative feat—raises some concerns. While efficiency is important, the speed of the process also suggests that the complexity of the applications may have been reduced. In other words, is the system being simplified to such an extent that it no longer fully captures the nuanced challenges and realities of farming? Are we seeing the introduction of a “one-size-fits-all” approach that risks overlooking the diversity of farming operations across the country?

This question is subjective, but it is worth raising: Is Defra’s drive for efficiency in processing applications inadvertently reducing the depth of understanding needed to truly support the sector? If we are to achieve long-term sustainability and success in the Programme, the advice and support provided to farmers must be as comprehensive and nuanced as the agricultural sector itself.

Inadequate Data for Decision-Making
Defra’s reliance on outdated and incomplete data hampers its ability to make evidence-based adjustments to schemes. As the National Audit Office (NAO) points out, data systems need a drastic overhaul to track and assess the Programme’s impact effectively. Without this, resources are not being allocated to where they can make the most difference.

Legacy IT Systems
Defra continues to rely on outdated IT infrastructure, leading to payment delays and inefficiencies. The NAO stresses that modernising these systems is critical to achieving the Programme’s goals—yet progress remains slow, leaving farmers frustrated with cumbersome processes.

Limited Focus on Concrete, Outcome-Based Objectives
Although Defra has set 16 environmental objectives, gaps remain in their clarity and measurability. Key targets, such as reducing pesticide use and improving species abundance, are either underdeveloped or missing altogether. The NAO recommends a stronger focus on clear, measurable outcomes, something Defra must address urgently to ensure accountability.

Advisory Support Lacking a Holistic Approach
The current advisory system focuses heavily on business support, but the bigger picture of holistic, whole-farm advice is being neglected. Defra must broaden its advisory offerings to integrate environmental and operational guidance, ensuring farmers have the tools and knowledge they need to thrive under the new system.

The Norfolk Environmental Skills Gap Analysis, October 2024, supports this by recommending the promotion of extension services that offer impartial advice across all aspects of environmental management. It stresses the need for consistent messaging across extension and training delivery to reduce the confusion created by conflicting advice. This requires alignment among lead partners on messaging to ensure farmers receive objective advice, free from commercial influence. As the analysis points out, “The pressure from the public to plant trees is strong, but it’s not always the best approach. There’s a lot of influence from the press and organizations pushing their own agendas, which can be misleading for the average farmer. Farmers need to take in advice from more independent advisory bodies to support change. We must focus on what truly benefits the bottom line for farmers, ensuring they have the right advice and people to work with them.” By emphasizing impartial and objective advice, Defra can help farmers make decisions that are genuinely beneficial to both their business and the environment.

Recommendations for Change
To address the weaknesses and unlock the full potential of the Farming and Countryside Programme, Defra must take these steps:

1. Build True Partnerships with Farmers

• Increase transparency in scheme development and decision-making.
• Co-design policies in collaboration with farmers to ensure schemes are practical and impactful.
• Provide consistent, ongoing updates to farmers, keeping them informed about the results of the schemes and any adjustments.

2. Enhance Data Collection and Usage

• Implement comprehensive monitoring systems to track both environmental and economic outcomes.
• Use advanced analytics to link scheme outputs to broader sustainability objectives.
• Build reliable, up-to-date data infrastructure as recommended by the NAO.

3. Modernise IT Systems

• Accelerate the development of a unified, streamlined payment and scheme management system.
• Ensure payment continuity throughout the transition period, addressing the frustrations caused by outdated IT systems.

4. Provide Holistic Advisory Support

• Expand advisory services to offer integrated support that includes environmental, operational, and business advice.
• Ensure equitable access to advisory services for all farmers, particularly those in smaller or more vulnerable operations.

5. Focus on Outcome-Based Objectives

• Prioritise clear and measurable objectives, such as improving species abundance and reducing pesticide use.
• Set achievable timelines and accountability measures to ensure these outcomes are met.

Moving Forward
While the Farming and Countryside Programme is an ambitious attempt to reshape UK agricultural policy, it’s clear that a partnership with land managers—farmers, in particular—must be at its heart. A true partnership would foster better outcomes for both the environment and food production, creating a system that delivers long-term sustainability for the sector.

The challenge for Defra is to move beyond top-down policymaking and truly listen to the needs and expertise of the farmers and land managers who are on the ground, making decisions every day. Until that happens, the Programme may struggle to achieve the high-quality outcomes it promises.

What steps can be taken to improve the partnership between Defra and farmers? How can we move towards a more outcome-driven and farmer-focused agricultural policy?