Publications

In this Dairy Insight we highlight some of the most accessible and profitable SFI actions for dairy farmers, demonstrating how the scheme can support business resilience, improve soil and grassland performance, and help reduce reliance on purchased inputs.

This summary outlines the new Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for 2026, including the revised actions, payment rates, scheme simplifications, updated caps, and what the changes may mean for dairy farms. It highlights where opportunities remain and where key actions have been removed or amended.

This year, as with previous years, the FETF fund is split into three grants, aimed at helping farmers:

This is the third in a three-part business review series which aims to challenge thinking, provide insights into "sailing your own ship," plan for the future and deal with a changing political landscape. We outline the headline tax changes for farmers and detail how farmers should re-think their approach to pensions, retirements and succession.

Agriculture is one of the deadliest sectors to work in – with farm workers more than 20 times more likely to be killed on the job than the average for all other industries. The latest HSE figures report 23 farm fatalities from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 – a stark reminder to prioritise safety on every farm. Let's work together to make yours as safe as possible.

Integrated pest management (IPM) uses a variety of pest management techniques in a coordinated and planned strategy for the prevention, detection and control of pests, weeds, and diseases. IPM has long been associated with crop production and crop pests. However, IPM can also be applied within livestock enterprises through controlling crop pests on forage crops and controlling livestock pests and diseases. This Dairy Insight explores the control of pests on forage crops in an environmentally responsible and economically viable way.

In 2018, the Farming Rules for Water, also known as the Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) regulations 2018, was introduced in England, its aim was that farmers who carefully planned manure and fertiliser applications (not exceeding crop and soil requirements), could prevent diffuse pollution following application. This Dairy Insight serves as a guide for you to get the full value from both your soils and fertilisers. Additionally, it provides an overview of the rules and helps you understand how to comply with them.

For more than three decades, Kingshay has dedicated its efforts to highlighting the significance of clover in grass leys. Now, amidst escalating fertiliser costs, pressure to reduce dairying's environmental impact as well as the availability of grant payments, integrating clover into swards holds even greater importance. This Dairy Insight explores the reasons to sow clover, how to establish clover, and how to manage clover in swards for success.

The Environment Agency (EA) is continuing to ramp up on-farm visits following a drive to recruit new inspectors, leading many farmers to confront the consequences of non-compliance. While the repercussions are typically not punitive, the required actions to meet regulatory standards can be extensive. This Dairy Insight explores the proactive measures farmers can take in readiness for impending EA inspections to facilitate both environmental stewardship and business viability.

Fulfilling legal requirements for sufficient slurry storage could facilitate better use of farm nutrients, which could benefit both the environment, and your back pocket. And with various rounds of grant funding in the pipeline – and storage requirements up for review – there's arguably never been a better time to future-proof your storage. This Dairy Insight delves into the minimum slurry storage requirements for farms, discusses storage requirement calculations and key considerations for new stores.

The AHWP is part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), it can be as a stand-alone application or can sit alongside the Environmental Land Management Standards (ELMS). The first step includes a veterinary visit / review, where you can discuss any topic that you feel would be beneficial to you and your business. Part of the first visit for cattle MUST include testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD). The aim of the visit and any outcomes is to reduce endemic disease, improve welfare, increase productivity and to ensure vet meds are being used to get maximum efficacy and reduce antimicrobial resistance. It is not an audit and should not be used replace a farm assurance visit. This is an opportunity for you and your vet to 'think outside the box'.

In February the Government announced they were adding 6 new SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) Standards during 2023. A Hedgerow Standard has been included in the scheme which aims to help the government progress towards their environment and climate goals. This insight explores the government aims for hedgerows, the grants available under Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the new SFI Hedgerow Standard and what they could mean for your hedgerow management.