Written questions

Agriculture

Commons · Question 25431 · Tabled 28 Aug 2026 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Official record

Answered 4 Sep 2026

Question

Asked by James McMurdock

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate has been made of the number of collaborative farming groups currently operating in England.

Answer

Answered by Stephen Morgan, 4 Sep 2026

Between 2015 and 2023, Defra supported approximately 6,000 farmers in 220 collaboration groups through the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund. There are also a wide range of formal and informal farmer collaboration models operating across England, ...