Farmers are to receive more advice and support to help them meet
high environmental standards with Environment Agency (EA) farm
inspections increasing by around 50%.
The boost in funding 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.
It will see the expected number of inspections reach a record
6,000 a year by 2029, supported by more investment in advice-led
regulation.
The EA's approach sees 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. This helps more farms follow the rules
that protect rivers, air, and wildlife, while also supporting
sustainable food production.
Environment Secretary 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 water ways 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.
Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy said:
Our role is to protect people and the environment which is why we
are tackling all sources of water pollution, whether it's from
agriculture, the water industry or road-runoff.
Many farmers share our desire for cleaner waterways and are
already taking significant steps to reduce pollution and improve
their environmental standards, and this increased support will
help even more to do the same.
Our approach means farmers receive clear advice and practical
steps, but where necessary we can and will take enforcement
action.
The announcement comes after a meeting on 18 June 2025, led by
Farming Minister Zeichner and Water Minister . They met with various groups
to start a new programme aimed at making farming rules clearer
and better to help reduce and prevent pollution from farms.
This builds on our record £11.8 billion investment in sustainable
farming—the largest in history—alongside action to protect
pollinators, including banning bee-harming pesticides and
publishing the first Pesticides National Action Plan in a decade.
This is all part of the Government's Plan for Change,
backing farmers and driving nature recovery across the
countryside.
