Environment Agency (EA) farm inspections are set to increase by around 50% on the way to reaching a record 6,000 a year by 2029.
A total of 4,545 farm inspections last year and, in 2024/25, 6,242 actions were completed, such as improving fertiliser use, slurry storage and soil testing, Defra said.
To facilitate this, funding has been doubled for agency farm inspections to clean up vulnerable waterways in what the department said was a ‘drive to help farmers slash agricultural pollution and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas’.
It said the funding boost would 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.
Inspections are currently 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.
Defra 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 water ways for good”
EA 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 with various stakeholders on June 18, led by farming minister Zeichner and water minister Emma Hardy, who discussed a ‘new programme aimed at making farming rules clearer and better to help reduce and prevent pollution from farms’. They also revealed revised guidance for the EA on the Farming Rules for Water.
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.
- Further information on how to prepare for an EA inspection: How to Prepare for an Inspection from the Environment Agency (EA): A Farmer’s Guide – Creating a better place