Farmers face 50% rise in number of EA inspections

The Environment Agency (EA) has secured additional funding to carry out more on-farm inspections across England in a bid to improve water quality.

Roughly 4,000 EA on-farm inspections currently take place each year and this is expected to increase to 6,000 a year by 2029.

Inspections are designed to address water quality issues by reducing pollution and run-off into watercourses.

See also: What to expect from an EA inspection on farm

The inspections are designed to be advice-led, however farms will need to be compliant with regulations or could face enforcement action.

Guidance states that if rules are broken, farmers will be told what needs to be fixed and then given a deadline in writing as part of the enforcement process.

Defra claims that agricultural pollution affects almost half of water bodies and is the leading cause of poor water quality.

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 waterways for good.

“Inspections are 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.”

EA chief executive Philip Duffy stated the organisation was tackling all sources of water pollution, whether it be from agriculture, the water industry or road-runoff.

He added: “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.”