More than half of the farms inspected by the Environment Agency last year were found not to meet standards, as the agency steps up efforts to tackle water pollution.
Official statistics show that 51% of farm inspections identified some type of violation, and more than 4,500 visits were carried out to unauthorized farms in 2024/25. This number is expected to increase to more than 6,000 tests per year by 2029.
The increase is part of a broader effort to improve water quality in rivers and reduce agricultural pollution, as nutrient runoff into waterways comes under increased scrutiny.
Advisors say farmers should expect more visits and prepare accordingly.
Alice Johnson, from Strutt & Parker’s agriculture team, said they were now receiving “inspection notices in large numbers and rapidly in some catchments”.
“It can be a stressful time for farmers,” she says.
But she stressed that being selected does not automatically mean cheating. The tests may be related to concerns about elevated nitrate and phosphate levels in local rivers, rather than specific allegations against individual companies.
Common failures include insufficient slurry storage capacity, lack of a nutrient management plan, and lack of up-to-date soil analysis results.
Yard infrastructure also comes under increased scrutiny, especially after periods of heavy rain.
“An issue we often face, especially given the amount of rain we’ve had recently, is the lack of drainage plans for gardens, particularly where people are taking advantage of capital grant schemes to lay new concrete,” Ms Johnson said.
Without proper planning, new concrete areas can increase surface water runoff and increase the risk of contaminated water entering drains and waterways.
Inspectors will closely monitor whether clean and dirty water is stored separately and whether rainwater collection systems are properly sized and placed.
“It’s worth remembering that slurry is defined as water containing any level of fecal material,” she said, warning that even a small level of contamination could constitute a leak.
The Environment Agency usually first takes what it calls an ‘advice-led approach’, giving farmers time to fix problems. However, if the issue is not resolved, an enforcement notice and further action remain options.
Mr Johnson advised businesses to review their systems before receiving inspection letters.
“The letter from the Environment Agency explains all the paperwork the inspector will want to see,” she said.
“However, in our experience, it is very reassuring to address potential weaknesses proactively rather than being under pressure.”
She recommends conducting a preliminary inspection audit to identify gaps and considering available grants if improvements are needed.
“A pre-inspection audit can help identify if there are any obvious gaps and is a starting point for exploring grant opportunities if there are problem areas,” she said.
A new round of capital grant schemes is scheduled for 2026 and will fund infrastructure such as slurry storage covers, farm manure storage and silage clamps designed to reduce wastewater volumes.
But projects aimed at improving air and water quality typically require approval from the Basin Sensitive Agriculture Officer, so farmers are urged to start planning early.
“Farmers should engage with their local CSFO as soon as possible,” says Johnson.
As inspections soar and regulatory scrutiny increases, advisors warn that preparation, not response, will determine how smoothly farms can respond to the next wave of compliance inspections.
