“If you are a farmer or land manager involved in day-to-day or strategic land-management decisions in England, I would be extremely grateful for your perspective. The anonymous survey takes around 10 minutes, and responses will contribute to my University of Warwick research and the recommendations that follow from it. Below is my explanation about why the survey is needed. There is a link to the survey at the end of my article.” Elizabeth Williams.
In the early 1940s, British agriculture was being asked a very different question from the one it faces today. Wartime disruption had drastically reduced food and fertiliser imports, and the urgent priority was to produce more food at home. The National Farm Survey of 1941-1943 recorded more than 300,000 farms across England and Wales, helping government understand how land could be brought into cultivation and productivity increased. After the war, the Agriculture Act 1947 continued that emphasis, supporting farm profitability and food production through guaranteed prices for key agricultural products. For decades, the direction was clear: produce more, become more efficient, and strengthen national food security.
Now, over eighty years later, food security remains fundamental – but the expectations placed on agricultural land have widened considerably. Farms are still expected to produce food and remain economically viable, while also being asked to contribute to cleaner water, biodiversity recovery, climate resilience and healthier soils. England’s current Environmental Improvement Plan is clear evidence of this change. It describes soil as one of our greatest natural assets and sets a target for at least 40% of agricultural soil to be sustainably managed by 2028, rising to 60% by 2030. The Sustainable Farming Incentive now pays farmers and land managers for actions intended to protect the environment while supporting food production and productivity.