Farmers are being invited to help create a new £30m government fund aimed at strengthening cooperation and resilience across the countryside.
Through the Farmers Cooperation Fund, Defra wants to help farmers and land managers “transform best practice into common practice” by facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration.
The initiative comes as the sector faces increasing financial and environmental pressures, from rising costs to the need for more sustainable land management.
A series of in-person workshops have now begun, giving farmers the chance to hear the latest plans and provide direct feedback to authorities.
Defra says working collectively can reduce costs, spread risk, improve skills and support stronger long-term business plans.
Across the country, farmers and land managers are already joining forces to address common challenges beyond the farm.
For example, neighboring properties coordinate soil and water management across watersheds and take measures along rivers that flow through multiple farms.
By pooling knowledge and resources, groups can make more targeted and cost-effective decisions that benefit both individual businesses and the broader context.
Working together can also strengthen farmers’ position when seeking private investment.
Defra says many organizations are well placed to secure funding for outcomes such as cleaner water, nature restoration and carbon sequestration, but this support can be difficult to attract on a farm-by-farm basis.
Other projects are restoring hedgerow and habitat networks at scale, reconnecting wildlife corridors and building more resilient landscapes.
In some regions, farmers are pooling data to test new approaches, share what works, and reduce risk for their individual businesses.
Over the next three years, the £30m fund will support existing networks and help launch new networks, expand access to shared expertise, strengthen bargaining power and improve resilience.
The workshop will begin with a short presentation from the Defra team, followed by a guided discussion.
The event will take place from March 11th to April 14th in nine locations across England including Ashford, Lincoln, Norwich, Thirsk, Carlisle, Hexham, Ludlow, Exeter and Winchester.
Each session lasts two hours and refreshments will be provided, but space is limited.
Defra is calling on farmers and land managers interested in taking part to register early to ensure they can take part in the discussion.
