Overview

• Farmers caused a record 77 serious pollution incidents in English rivers in 2024, a 54% increase from the previous year.
• The Environment Agency ramped up farm inspections to 4,545 in 2024, compared to around 1,000 annually in 2020, uncovering more violations.
• The closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in March 2025 left farmers without critical green funding, with no replacement until next year.
• A new 20% inheritance tax on agricultural estates, alongside higher employer costs, has triggered financial pressures and ongoing tractor protests.
• Ministers announced wide-ranging water sector reforms to address public outrage over pollution, but farmers and the NFU stress the need for balanced regulation and targeted support.