Farmers too Recieve Support for Sustainable practices with Countryside Stewardship Extensions
Farmers will continue to be rewarded for their vital role in sustainable food production and nature’s recovery with the offer of one-year extensions to their Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements, Farming Minister Dame angela Eagle confirmed today (Wednesday 15 October).
Countryside Stewardship supports farmers and land managers by providing payments for environmental work – such as planting wildflower margins to support pollinators and managing hedgerows to create habitats for wildlife – alongside sustainable food production.
This targeted, time-limited extension is being offered to agreements expiring on 31 December to ensure farmers have the support needed to continue restoring nature and producing food sustainably. It’s a key part of the government’s plan to provide long-term certainty for the farming sector.
This one-off investment of up to £70 million will support over 5,000 farmers. Currently,there are more than 77,000 live agri-environment agreements – a record high – with half (4.3 million hectares) of farmed land in England actively managed under these schemes.
Funding for Environmental Land Management schemes, including Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, will increase by 150% to £2 billion by 2029, boosting rural economies, strengthening domestic food production, and enhancing the UK’s natural environment.
Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:
We’re backing farmers with the largest investment in nature-pleasant farming in history, underpinning our cast iron commitment to food security.
This targeted extension to Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier agreements ensures farmers have the certainty and support they need to continue to grow their businesses, get more British food on our plates, and help restore nature.
The government is also reviewing the Sustainable Farming Incentive to ensure funding is distributed efficiently and fairly,with details of the next iteration to be published soon.
investing in nature thru the government’s Plan for Change is central to securing Britain’s future economic growth, developing a sustainable and profitable farming sector, and ensuring long-term food security.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact eligible farmers with details about their extension offer, including instructions on how to accept and the relevant deadline.
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