Three quarters of eligible farmers have already received their
Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments
since the 2025 payment window opened on 1 December, the Rural
Payments Agency (RPA) confirmed today (Friday 12 December).
So far, more than 28,351 payments have been made, bringing the
total amount paid to farmers to £435.6 million. Payments will
continue to be made throughout December and beyond.
The Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship schemes
support farmers to deliver environmental benefits while
maintaining sustainable food production.
The schemes help protect and restore habitats and species,
improve water quality, reduce flooding risks, enhance carbon
capture, and conserve important historical and archaeological
features.
By managing land in sustainable ways, the schemes boost farm
resilience and help future-proof rural businesses, aligning with
government targets for nature recovery, carbon storage, and
sustainable food production.
RPA Chief Executive Neil Hornby said:
The RPA has been working hard to ensure farmers receive their
Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments as
quickly as possible.
We've made a strong start to the 2025 payment window and
increased the number of payments made in the first few weeks
compared with last year.
I'm grateful for the commitment of the RPA teams, who have been
focused on delivering the best possible service for our
customers.
The government is backing British farmers to create a productive,
profitable, and sustainable future for farming. Through new
technology, streamlined regulation and nature-friendly farming
schemes, it is helping farmers produce food for the nation.
More than half of farmers are in farming schemes, helping them to
adopt nature-friendly methods which are good for their bottom
lines.
