Government says move will help farmers reach high environmental standards
The Environment Agency (EA) is significatnly ramping up the number of farm inspections it makes in a move it says will provide farmers with more advice and support to help them meet high environmental standards.
The increase in funding – which will see a 50 per cent increase in farm inspections – “will help the EA offer more guidance to farmers, strengthen links with supply chains and farm networks, make better use of technology like remote sensing, and take stronger action against serious or ongoing pollution”, according to the government.
It will see the expected number of inspections reach a record 6,000 a year by 2029, backed by further investment in advice-led regulation.
The EA’s approach will see officers visiting farms to check compliance with environmental law. If rules are broken, farmers are told what to fix and given a deadline in writing as part of the enforcement process. The EA said this helps more farms follow the rules that protect rivers, air, and wildlife, while also supporting sustainable food production.
Environment secretary Steve Reed said: “Farmers are key partners in protecting our rivers, lakes, and seas – and through our Plan for Change we’re backing them to do just that. By doubling funding for inspections, we’re ensuring that farmers receive better advice to help them reduce pollution and clean up our waterways for good.
“This builds on EA’s current work with farmers that is having a real impact. In 2024/25, 6,242 actions were completed, such as improving fertiliser use, slurry storage, and soil testing. These changes help the environment and save farmers money. The 4,545 farm inspections last year are expected to bring even more benefits.
“Inspections are prioritised at farms that present the highest risk to water quality – particularly in areas where rivers or groundwater have already been affected by agricultural activity, or where large volumes of slurry and waste are handled, such as dairy farms in protected catchments.”
