Defra is making changes to the way farmers are paid for protecting the environment, after an EU audit of England’s agri-environment schemes.The schemes fund green farming methods such as creating wildlife habitats and protecting the English landscape. Although Defra’s schemes are effective and have been designed to make them attractive to farmers, the European Commission concluded that payments should only be made at certain points during the year instead of on a rolling basis throughout the year, to comply with EU law.
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